Coast Files Podcast

On March 11, 2011, the eastern coast of Japan experienced a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, destroying lives, homes, and economies. However, the potential for things to get a lot worse was very real, as the Fukushima Nuclear Plant was unable to cool down its reactors – a nuclear disaster would be imminent. Join us as we learn about one of the worst nuclear disasters of all time.

References:

What are the biggest historical earthquakes. (n.d.). Earth Observatory of Singapore. https://earthobservatory.sg/earth-science-education/earth-science-faqs/geology-and-tectonics/what-are-the-biggest-historical-earthquakes

Michigan Technological University. (2021, October 4). Earthquake magnitude scale. https://www.mtu.edu/geo/community/seismology/learn/earthquake-measure/magnitude/

The science of earthquakes. (n.d.). USGS. https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/science-earthquakes

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2025, April 19). Fukushima accident | Summary, Date, Effects, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Fukushima-accident

FRONTLINE PBS, Official. (2021, March 16). Inside Japan’s Nuclear Meltdown (full documentary) | FRONTLINE [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRKScRgsUaE

Mecklin, J. (2021, March 23). A Fukushima lesson: Victim compensation schemes need updating – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. https://thebulletin.org/2021/03/a-fukushima-lesson-victim-compensation-schemes-need-updating/

Photos:

File:Fukushima Daiichi 04780015 (8388174045).jpg – Wikimedia Commons. (2007, February 21). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fukushima_Daiichi_04780015_(8388174045).jpg
Sturmer, J., & Asada, Y. (2021, March 11). His 7yo daughter went missing after the 2011 tsunami. So Norio spent years digging through rubble to find her. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-11/the-tragedy-of-japans-2011-tsunami-still-haunts-many/13229222