Meltdown at Fukushima | The Devil's Chain Reaction | 4

Against The Odds

Wondery

Cassie De Pecol, History, Society & Culture, Dolby, Mike Corey, Dolby Atmos, Atmos

4.7 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 May 2022

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After a week of unrelenting disasters—and with Tokyo itself now under threat—the managers of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are forced to evacuate all but the most essential staff. But the remaining few rally for one last battle to prevent the explosion of the reactor cores and avert a catastrophic meltdown.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey Prime members, you can listen to against the odds at free on Amazon music. Download the app today.
0:15.7	Tetsuro Ito hurries through a hallway at the Kante. The Japanese Prime Minister's residence in the heart of Tokyo.
0:24.0	Ito is the head of the government's crisis response team.
0:27.4	It's 2am on March 15, 2011. Four days since a massive earthquake and tsunami caused widespread destruction on the eastern coast of Japan.
0:38.8	A few minutes ago, Ito received an email with urgent news that he needs to share immediately with Prime Minister Nautokan.
0:47.6	He reaches Khan's office and pauses outside the door. He takes a deep breath to settle his nerves.
0:53.9	Khan has a notoriously bad temper and he's already on a short fuse, but there's not a second to lose.
1:02.9	Ito opens the door and finds Khan meeting with several aides. They frown at him, annoyed by the intrusion.
1:09.9	Khan looks especially displeased.
1:12.9	What is it? Sir, I need to speak with you alone.
1:16.9	Khan looks dubious, but motions for everyone else to leave.
1:20.9	So, what was so important that you had to interrupt me?
1:25.9	Teppko is saying they might abandon Fukushima.
1:29.9	At this, Khan's bloodshot eyes go wide.
1:34.9	Teppko is the Tokyo Electric Power Company, which owns and operates the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
1:41.9	Ito explains to Khan what he's heard that Teppko is thinking about pulling all their workers from the plant
1:49.9	and letting the reactors melt down.
1:53.9	Ito can hear Khan trying to control the anger in his voice.
1:57.9	How bad would this be?
1:59.9	Worst than Chernobyl. Not only half the problem.
2:03.9	Ito points to a map of Japan on the wall.
2:06.9	He explains that there's a second nuclear power plant 10 miles from Fukushima.
	...

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