‘This is serious, this is serious’

Locutus

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Jun 18, 2007
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Fukushima nuclear plant chief shouts on new video of crisis



TOKYO—The emergency command centre at Japan’s stricken nuclear plant shook violently when hydrogen exploded at one reactor and the plant chief reacted by shouting, “This is serious, this is serious,” new videos revealed about the crisis as it happened last year.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. initially refused to release the videos, but the company is now under state control and it was ordered to do so. The footage seen Monday was mainly of teleconferences between company headquarters in Tokyo and staff at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, after the March 11, 2011, tsunami caused critical damage to its reactors.

In the videos, then-plant chief Masao Yoshida complained about phone calls to the prime minister’s office not getting through and showed frustration as he fought the government’s nuclear safety officials interfering with technical suggestions that didn’t fit the plant’s conditions.

Around 11 a.m. on March 15, Yoshida screamed to officials at Tokyo headquarters: “The headquarters! This is serious, this is serious. The No. 3 unit. I think this is hydrogen explosion. We just had an explosion.”

In the video’s background, other officials shout questions, asking for radiation levels and other data.

The videos also included conversations showing communication problems between the plant and the government, workers’ lack of knowledge in emergency steps and delays in effort to inform outsiders about the risks of leaking radiation.

Also on March 15, the videos showed then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan bursting into TEPCO’s Tokyo office, rebuking officials and demanding they work harder. The portion of his visit has no sound. While Kan spoke for 20 minutes, operations at Fukushima Dai-ichi seemed halted, with officials and workers there, as well as TEPCO executives in Tokyo, sitting straight and quietly listening to him.

TEPCO made a 90-minute video of selected clips available for download, while journalists who registered beforehand were allowed to see 150 hours of coverage. The content was heavily edited, with white shades shielding workers’ faces and name tags and beeps masking voices and other sound.

The massive earthquake and tsunami that hit northeast Japan knocked out the plant’s cooling systems. The cores of three reactors melted, releasing large amounts of radiation, and explosions of hydrogen gas badly damaged two reactor buildings.

It was the world’s second worst nuclear accident after Chernobyl, residents whose homes were nearest the plant have not been allowed to return and cleanup at the site may take decades.


‘This is serious, this is serious,’ Fukushima nuclear plant chief shouts on new video of crisis - thestar.com
 

Locutus

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Jun 18, 2007
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Ya...people will get all bent about the garbage that will wash-up soon...just wait for the radiation.
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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So have they got this thing under control yet? I hear nothing on the news and read a lot of doom and gloom from the usual doom and gloom spaces


I'm not a tinfoiler, but my gut tells me this is only serious if you live in Japan, western North America, or want to have a future.

Being on the east coast, I'll pretend everything is fine, that's what the media thinks we want.
 

B00Mer

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Sep 6, 2008
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Or if you have compassion for those who live there.

Sorry I have compassion for the "people" however what Government in their right mind is going to build a nucular facility in a high earthquake zone..

The USA started closing facilities near populated areas or areas subject to natural disasters after this..

What they need to do is destory the plant and burry it under cement for 100 years.
 

SLM

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Mar 5, 2011
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Sorry I have compassion for the "people" however what Government in their right mind is going to build a nucular facility in a high earthquake zone..

The USA started closing facilities near populated areas or areas subject to natural disasters after this..

What they need to do is destory the plant and burry it under cement for 100 years.

So then it is serious matter period, not just if you live in Japan. Otherwise it makes it sound like, who cares it's not affecting me personally.
 

lone wolf

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Nov 25, 2006
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I'm not a tinfoiler, but my gut tells me this is only serious if you live in Japan, western North America, or want to have a future.

Being on the east coast, I'll pretend everything is fine, that's what the media thinks we want.
Sudbury's probably safe enough at better than half a continent and a whole ocean away. I think there's been something like a thousand atom bombs go off in my time and all my kids and grandkids came out normal
 

B00Mer

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So then it is serious matter period, not just if you live in Japan. Otherwise it makes it sound like, who cares it's not affecting me personally.

It effects everyone.. economy, food, travel, immigration.. but should people be scared, is it really "serious" - I don't think so. They have trained scientist that are working on this 24/7 and they have been dealing with this issue for over a year now.

I hope it does not really become "serious," such as having to evacuate Toyko... then I will become concerned.. and give more money to Red Cross.. until then.. I have to have faith in the skilled and courageous individuals risking their lives to contain this situation.
 
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TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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Sudbury's probably safe enough at better than half a continent and a whole ocean away. I think there's been something like a thousand atom bombs go off in my time and all my kids and grandkids came out normal

And those bombs were all what, in comparison to the reactor that's gone wonko? Furthermore, none of your kids or grand kids have any forms of cancer, and never will. That's awesome.