Japan’s Nuclear Crisis – Wake-up Call for Nuclear Power Countries

Generally, the nuclear power reactors are designed to withstand earthquake and tripped/shutdown in case of peak ground acceleration (PGA). In Japan, historical data pertaining to earthquake reveal that there were no major accidents or massive radiation leak of the nuclear power reactors which were in the vicinity of earthquake epicenter and different magnitudes. According to World Nuclear Association (WNA), 20% of the nuclear reactors operating worldwide are in earthquake prone areas. The nuclear facilities are equipped with seismic detectors, which are set to certain level; once the level is exceeded it results in safe shutdown of the nuclear reactors. The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, resulted in massive destruction to people and property and in addition has halted (temporary automatic shutdown) 11 nuclear reactor’s operation in the country. The other incidents such as radiation leak into the atmosphere has made the government to announce emergency and asked the people in the vicinity (12 mile) to evacuate and the people with in 19 miles to stay indoors. This incident had a drastic affect on global nations to recheck/ upgrade their nuclear reactors design to cope similar natural disasters or even stronger ones.

March, 2011

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