Global InformationFukushima 50 information
Fukushima 50 is a pseudonym given by English-language media to a group of employees at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011, a related series of nuclear accidents resulted in melting of the cores of three reactors. These 50 employees remained on-site after 750 other workers were evacuated.[1][2]
After TEPCO management proposed withdrawing all its employees from the plant on 14 March,[3] additional manpower was deployed from around Japan.[4] Some workers traveled on clear roads by convoy from Tokyo.[4] When they arrived, hundreds of firemen, SDF personnel and employees of TEPCO, convened 20 km (12 mi) from the plant and debated how to best stabilize the plant.[4] On the night of 15 March, these workers joined the original Fukushima 50. Despite the incorrect figure of workers, the Fukushima 50 has remained the pseudonym used by media to refer to the group of workers at Fukushima reflecting the solitary nature of the role.[5]
The number of the workers involved rose to 580 on the morning of 18 March[1] as staff from the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant and workers installing the new power line joined in. More than 1,000 workers, firefighters, and soldiers toiled at the site on 23 March.[6] The Fukushima 50 were drawn from Toshiba, Hitachi, Kajima, firefighters from Tokyo, Osaka,[7] Yokohama,[8] Kawasaki, Nagoya and Kyoto, TEPCO and its subsidiaries such as Kandenko,[9] TEP Industry and TEP Environmental Engineering, and many small-to-mid-size companies that have contracts with these big companies.[1][10]
Over 20 workers had been injured by 18 March, including one who was exposed to a large amount of ionizing radiation when the worker tried to vent vapour from a valve of the containment building.[1] Three more workers were exposed to radiation over 100 mSv, and two of them were sent to a hospital due to beta burns on 24 March.[11] Two other workers, Kazuhiko Kokubo, 24, and Yoshiki Terashima, 21, were killed by the tsunami while conducting emergency repairs immediately after the quake. Their bodies were found on 30 March.[12]
The workers and volunteers were assigned the mission of stabilizing the reactors. Their activities included assessing the damage and radiation levels caused by the explosions, cooling stricken reactors with seawater, and preventing any risk of fire. These workers remained on-site despite serious risks of radiation poisoning.[13] Levels of radiation on site are far higher than in the 20 km (12 mi) exclusion zone and media outlets reported that the severity of the situation could have grave implications on their future health, with possibly fatal consequences for the workers.[14] On 18 March, according to Prime Minister Naoto Kan the workers were "prepared for death".[15]
On 14 March, a complete withdrawal proposed by TEPCO was rejected by the prime minister,[16][17][18] to continue attempts at bringing the reactors under control during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
- ^ a b c d 「英雄フクシマ５０」欧米メディア、原発の作業員ら称賛 ["Fukushima 50" western press praise workers at nuclear plant]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). JP. 18 March 2011.
- ^ "Japan tsunami: Fukushima Fifty, the first interview". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110318p2a00m0na009000c.html Archived 21 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine TEPCO wanted to withdraw all nuclear plant workers 3 days after quake
- ^ a b c Belson, Ken (30 March 2011). "Workers Give Glimpse of Japan's Nuclear Crisis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "In praise of … the Fukushima 50". The Guardian. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ^ Alford, Peter (24 March 2011). "Nameless samurai are 'heroes of our modern world'". The Australian. AUS. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ 「特攻隊…」ヨウ素飲ませ覚悟の命令 放水支援の大阪市消防局 [Osaka Fire Department firefighter]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). JP. 25 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011.
- ^ ６７人１０台を派遣 福島第１原発に横浜市消防局 [Dispatched 67 people 10 Fire apparatus to Fukushima I N-plant: Yokohama Fire Department]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). JP. 21 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
mainichiKandenkowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ 福島第１原発：英雄でも何でもない…交代で懸命の復旧作業 [Fukushima I Nuclear Plant: "Not a hero...." rotating desperate work for recovering the plant]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). JP. 21 March 2011. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Belfasttelegraphwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Takahara, Kanako (4 April 2011). "Two missing Tepco workers found dead". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ Branigan, Tania; McCurry, Justin (15 March 2011). "Fukushima 50 battle radiation risks as Japan nuclear crisis deepens". The Guardian. UK.
- ^ "BBC News - Japan hails the heroic 'Fukushima 50'". BBC News. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
- ^ More volunteers 'prepared for death' at Fukushima
- ^ "TEPCO wanted to withdraw all nuclear plant workers 3 days after quake". Mainichi Daily News. Japan. 18 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
- ^ "Kan berates TEPCO for tardy response". The Daily Yomiuri. Japan. 16 March 2011.
- ^ "Japanese PM slams nuke plant operator's handling of growing crisis, SDF switch to relief from rescue". Xinhua News Agency. China. 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011.