The Fukushima-Daïchi nuclear power plant accident in March 2011 was the first occurrence showing that an extreme natural event, that generated stress levels far beyond nuclear power plant design-basis values, could lead to a core meltdown accident. It also showed how the massive destruction of a site and of the surrounding infrastructures could delay and complicate all accident management operations. This page gives access to special contents produced by IRSN following the accident.
Fukushima, two years later
Two years after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, IRSN publishes a new video looking back at the events that led to the meltdown of three reactors. It explains in particular the difficulties encountered by the operators, TEPCO and the Japanese government in the managiement of the crisis.
Video: Analysis by IRSN of the Fukushima Daiichi accident of March 2011
Report: Fukushima, one year later - Initial analyses of the accident and its consequences
Published in March 2012, IRSN’s report "Fukushima, one year later" illustrates both the vast amount of data that are now available on the accident’s sequences, and the limited understanding achieved so far of a particularly complex accident, beyond its obvious initiating events.
Detailed understanding of how nuclear accidents unfold, of their consequences of all kinds, and of the related decision-making and response processes is a major source of short- and long-term progress in nuclear safety, radiation protection and emergency response management.
Download the report: Fukushima, one year later - Initial analyses of the accident and its consequences (pdf file)
Press briefing of February 2012: Situation in Japan one year after the Fukushima Daiichi accident
On February 28th 2012 in Paris, IRSN organized a press briefing "Fukushima, one year after" with the participation of Jacques Repussard, Director General of IRSN, Thierry Charles, Deputy Director General in charge of Nuclear Safety, Didier Champion, Director of Emergency Response, and Jean-Rene Jourdain, Assistant Director of Radiation Protection.
The syntheses of their presentation are available for download:
Assessment of the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in February 2012
Summary of the Fukushima Accident's impact on the environment in Japan, one year after the accident
Health Consequences of the Fukushima Accident: Update of the situation in February 2012
Fukushima Special Report: First lessons learned
One year after the accident, IRSN propose an English translation of a special issue of its newsmagazine, Repères, who is focused on the accident and on the first lessons drawn by IRSN regarding nuclear safety.
The first part revisits the accident and its aftermath, and the mobilization of IRSN during the crisis. The second part looks at the assessments launched in 2011 to check the conformity of French nuclear facilities. It also addresses research that could better predict the fate of radionuclides released from Fukushima, as well as to improve the monitoring and radiation protection in France.
Download our newsmagazine "Fukushima Special Report" (PDF file)
Videos: Understanding the Fukushima accident
Three videos explaining the sequence of the accident, its consequences on the terrestrial and marine and marine environments, and the protection and long-term monitoring of populations.
The development of the accident
Contamination of the environment
Health issues after the accident
These videos are also available in high definition on IRSN's pages on the video platform YouTube and Dailymotion.
Videos: Lessons learned from Fukushima
Based on interviews of Japanese citizens, complete with insights and explanations by experts from IRSN, these videos offer a series of findings of the situation in Japan one year after the accident.
A new approach to nuclear safety
Contamination of people and the environment
Living with radioactivity - Measures, maps and standards
Crops and food protection
Response of the Japanese society
These videos are also available in high definition on IRSN's pages on the video platform YouTube and Dailymotion.
Earthquake and nuclear crisis in Japan in 2011
During the weeks following the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011, IRSN has published regular information notices in French regarding the status of the nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, and the consequences of the radioactive releases in the environment. We provide translation in English and Japanese of some of these contents.
Earthquake and nuclear crisis in Japan in 2011