Inside Japan's Nuclear Meltdown (full documentary) | FRONTLINE

The paragraph reveals the untold stories of the workers who risked their lives during the Fukushima nuclear disaster. It starts with the workers' disbelief at being sent to the site and their prayers, acknowledging the global impact of their actions. The narrator describes the life and death decisions, the radioactive fallout, and the courage of those involved. The script also recounts the initial earthquake that hit the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, the most powerful in Japan's history, and the subsequent tsunami that overwhelmed the plant's defenses. The workers' struggle to maintain the cooling systems and the company TEPCO's response are highlighted, along with the revelation that some workers chose to remain anonymous for fear of losing their jobs.

This section details the aftermath of the tsunami and the unfolding nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. Fishermen like Yoshio Ichida describe their experience at sea during the tsunami, while the plant workers recall the destruction caused by the waves, including the inundation of the backup generators. The narrative explains how the loss of these generators meant that there was no way to cool the nuclear fuel, leading to a potential meltdown. The frantic efforts of the engineers to manage the situation are depicted through a log they kept, which recorded the progression of the disaster, including the declaration of a nuclear emergency and the malfunction of the emergency core cooling system.

The paragraph discusses the response of TEPCO executives and the involvement of the Japanese Prime Minister during the nuclear crisis. It highlights the Prime Minister's request for updates on the situation at Fukushima and the responsibility placed on TEPCO to manage the emergency. The devastation of the coastline and the personal story of Norio Kimura, a farmer searching for his missing family, are also depicted. The narrative describes the evacuation order, the challenges faced by the nuclear plant workers without power or functioning instruments, and the improvised efforts to restore some monitoring capabilities. The rising pressure and heat in the reactor core, and the potential for a catastrophic explosion, lead to the decision to release radioactive gases, requiring the Prime Minister's permission.

This section delves into the complexities of venting the reactors to prevent an explosion and the Prime Minister's difficult decision to authorize the release of radioactivity. It reveals TEPCO's lack of preparedness for venting a reactor without electricity and the challenges the workers faced in manually opening the vent valves. The escalating radiation levels and the suspicion of a nuclear meltdown are contrasted with the Prime Minister's visit to Fukushima Dai-ichi to demand action from TEPCO engineers. The narrative also highlights the Prime Minister's insistence on venting the reactors despite the potential fatal consequences for the workers involved.

The paragraph describes the explosion at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant and its immediate effects on the workers and the response efforts. It details how the venting team's efforts led to a decrease in pressure within the reactor core, averting a catastrophic explosion. However, an explosion of leaking hydrogen in the reactor building caused panic among the workers, who feared the reactor core had exploded. The situation in Tokyo is also covered, with the Prime Minister's chief cabinet secretary downplaying the crisis, while the Prime Minister and his team were aware of the deteriorating situation and the spreading radiation.

This section recounts the desperate measures taken to prevent further disaster, including a helicopter mission to dump water on spent fuel pools and the bravery of Tokyo firefighters. It describes the challenges faced by the helicopter crew, who had to navigate high radiation levels and strong winds to execute their mission. The firefighters' mission to lay hoses and spray water into the fuel pools is also detailed, highlighting their lack of experience in radioactive conditions and the risks they took to complete the mission.

The paragraph discusses the efforts to stabilize the reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. It describes how the workers, initially without dosimeters and with limited information about radiation levels, laid pipes to channel a constant flow of water into the reactor cores. The narrative highlights the sense of hope that emerged as the reactor cores began to cool and the most dangerous phase of the crisis seemed to be over. The consequences for the Prime Minister, TEPCO, and the workers are also outlined, including the Prime Minister's resignation, TEPCO's potential bankruptcy, and the uncertain future for the workers, some of whom received increased cancer risks due to radiation exposure.

The final paragraph provides a reflective conclusion to the Fukushima nuclear disaster narrative. It describes the ongoing impact of the disaster, including the contamination of hundreds of square miles of land and the displacement of over 100,000 people. The personal story of Norio Kimura, who moved to the mountains of Hakuba for his surviving daughter's safety, is also shared. The narrative concludes with a ceremony held by evacuees from Norio's village to remember those lost in the tsunami and Norio's hopeful message about returning home one day.