FUKUSHIMA Lives on the Line

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2882011March 11 2:46 pm: A seismic intensity 7.0 earthquake occurs in the northern region of Miyagi Prefecture and one of seismic intensity 6.0-6.4 is experienced in Fukushima. A total of 11 nuclear power reactors, including TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant, automatically shut down. 2:49 pm: Japan Meteorological Association issues a major tsunami warning for the pacific coast, namely Fukushima, Aomori, Iwate, Ibaraki, and Chiba Prefectures. Many people are dead, injured, or unaccounted for in various areas.● The government sets up the Official Response Office.● The prefecture sets up the Disaster Response Headquarters and the prefectural police set up the Disaster Defense Headquarters. Forty-six municipalities in the Nakadori and Hamadori regions set up Disaster Response Headquarters.7:03 pm: The government announces “Declaration of a Nuclear Emergency Situation” for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant according to the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness.9:23 pm: An evacuation warning is issued for citizens living within a 3 km radius of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. March 120:49 am: TEPCO announces to the nation that the pressure inside the containment vessel of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Unit 1 Reactor has increased.5:44 am: Radiation levels rise in the main control room of Unit 1 Reactor and the radius of the evacuation zone is extended from 3 to 10 km.7:40 am: Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant Unit 1, 2 and 4 Reactor lose their cooling functions, and it becomes clear that TEPCO has announced a state of emergency to the nation.Just after 2 pm: It is revealed that radioactive cesium has been detected in the area of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Unit 1 Reactor, thus confirming a nuclear meltdown.3:36 pm: Hydrogen explosion at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Unit 1 Reactor. Four TEPCO workers are injured.7:04 pm: The evacuation radius for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is extended to 20 km following instruction from the Official Response Office. TEPCO pumps sea water into Unit 1 Reactor.March 13● Japan Meteorological Association revises the magnitude of the Great East Japan Earthquake from 8.8 to 9.0. ● Prime Minister Naoto Kan announces that “TEPCO has agreed to implement planned blackouts from March 14.” March 1411:01 am: Hydrogen explosion at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Unit 3 Reactor. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency advises citizens within a 20 km radius to shelter indoors.Around 7:55 pm: TEPCO announces that the fuel rods of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Unit 2 Reactor are completely exposed to air, leaving the nuclear reactor without coolant. March 156:10 am: An explosion is heard from Unit 2 Reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency indicates that there “may have been a leakage of radioactive material.”● TEPCO implements planned blackouts in parts of Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, and Kanagawa Prefectures. ● The Tohoku Shinkansen operates between Tokyo and Nasushiobara for the first time in four days.9:40 am: A fire breaks out from the fourth floor of the containment building of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Unit 4 Reactor.● Approximately 140,000 people living within a 20–30 km radius of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are advised to shelter indoors. March 16● There is a second fire at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Unit 4 Reactor.● Radioactive iodine and cesium are detected in Fukushima City’s tap water, but their levels do not exceed the national safety limits.● The Imperial Household Agency releases a video of the Emperor addressing the people, stating “I sincerely hope that the people will treat each other with passion and overcome these unhappy times.”March 17● Japan Ground Self-Defense Force helicopters drop water into Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Unit 3 Reactor.March 18● Tokyo Fire Department dispatches 139 members including the Fire Rescue Task Force Group.● The severity of the situation at Unit 1–3 Reactors is provisionally assessed as “level 5.” March 19● Residents of Futaba, where the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is located, arrive at Saitama Super Arena, the group shelter.● TEPCO announces that the radiation dose received by six workers during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident exceeded the emergency limit of 100 mSv.● Fukushima Prefecture announces that Shun-ichi Yamashita (WHO Emergency Nuclear Medicine Research Center Leader) and Noboru Takamura (former technical officer at WHO) have been assigned to the post of Radiation Health Risk Management Advisor. They hold a press conference at the Prefecture Disaster Response Headquarters and emphasize that “there is no need to worry about the effects of radiation.” March 20● Fukushima Prefecture conducts emergency inspections of fresh milk in Iwaki, Kunimi, Shinchi, and Iitate; the radiation level exceeds the safe dose stipulated in the Food Sanitation Law. The prefecture requests that all dairy farms within the prefecture practice self-regulation of forwarding and personal consumption. ● Minister of Defense, Toshimi Kitazawa, explains that the temperature of all spent fuel rod pools of Unit 1–6 Reactors were below 100 °C, stating that “it is a value that should put all citizens at ease.”March 21● Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announces that 965 Bq of radioactive iodine per kilo—three times the basic intake limit—was detected in Iitate’s drinking water in the March 21 inspection. March 22● The Tohoku Shinkansen resumes services between Morioka and Shinaomori. ● Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announces the postponement of nationwide local elections for the three prefectures, namely Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi, totaling 27 gubernatorial, Prefectural Assemblies, and other elections. ● According to National Police Agency Data, 9080 people are dead and 13,561 are unaccounted for, which is more than that in the Earthquake Disaster Document�March 11, 2011–March 31, 2012[Photos provided by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Fukushima Minpo News]

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