The Fukushima Nuclear Accident and the People’s Tribunal on Nuclear Power

On March 12, 2011, the day after a mega earthquake and a tsunami hit Japan’s main island of Honshu, Reactor Number One of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant exploded.1 Soon after, an evacuation order for the 77,000 residents from 28,000 households within 20 km of the power plant was issued. The majority of people did not receive this official command, however, as the earthquake had cut electricity and all communication lines. Nevertheless, rumor spread quickly that the radiation emitted by the explosion was so deadly that it would kill everyone in the vicinity unless they escaped immediately. Many people from within the 20-km zone, as well as a vast number of residents from outside the area, began to flee. It is estimated that, in total, more than 80,000 people evacuated. No one had anticipated a nuclear accident of this magnitude, and no one was prepared for the ensuing crisis. There was not enough drinking water, baby food, diapers, medicine, and other essentials. People did not have enough fuel to travel long distances, yet they tried to flee by car nevertheless. Traffic jams soon created further chaos, and in many areas, cars moved only 50 m an hour. Some people abandoned their cars in the middle of the road when fuel ran out, and many cars queued up to purchase fuel, further delaying the escape of those inside the affected zone and increasing their exposure to the radiation.