Why was the Fukushima nuclear accident (loss of all power and core meltdown) not prevented? -March 2011

Why was the Fukushima nuclear accident (loss of all power and core meltdown) not prevented? -March 2011


On March 11, 2011, the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami hit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The reactors automatically shut down, but the emergency power supply to cool the residual heat in the reactor core was lost due to the tsunami, resulting in a total loss of power (station blackout). As a result, the cooling function was lost and a core meltdown occurred. Hydrogen generated by the high-temperature reaction of the fuel rods accumulated in the buildings, causing multiple explosions and leaking radioactive material outside. In the background were compounded institutional deficiencies, including underestimation of the tsunami, outdated 1970s design, delayed information disclosure, and lack of independence of the regulatory agencies. The fact that the regulatory organization was placed under the administrative body that promoted nuclear power plants has been pointed out as a structural problem that prevented strict safety measures from being taken. Human overconfiden
ce and weak institutions combined with natural disasters to cause an unprecedented nuclear disaster.