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2012 October 10 - 16 TOP3 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

TEPCO took no safety measures fearing anti-nuke movement

It has been brought to light that Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, neglected to take measures to prevent accidents for fear of intensifying citizens’ movements against nuclear power plants.

TEPCO on October 12 issued a reflection on the disaster, admitting for the first time that it had failed to take appropriate steps against a tsunami and a resultant severe accident.

In a report on the accident filed in June, the operator was denying its responsibility for the disaster, saying, “It was impossible to assume that such a powerful earthquake and tsunami would hit the station.”

On the contrary, TEPCO’s latest report states that: the company should have taken measures against a massive tsunami beyond the expected limits; should have diversified its safety equipment referring to other nations’ steps against a severe accident; and could have prevented the accident from damaging a wide area if it had held emergency drills based on a scenario where a nuclear accident could happen.

The statement also points out that the utility intentionally neglected its duty in fear of adding fuel to anti-nuclear movements on the ground that taking such measures means admitting that nuclear power plants are dangerous.

Another report issued by the Diet accident investigation commission in July concluded that the accident was a “man-made” disaster caused by the nuclear regulatory authorities and TEPCO, which had taken hardly any steps in spite of many chances to do so.