BASED ON TRUE EVENTS
Kinoshita and Tateno are…
Maejima just left to bring them back.
Kinoshita! Tateno!
Can you hear me?
Kinoshita! Tateno!
Come back!
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NEAR UNIT 1 REACTOR BUILDING ENTRANCE
Both of you! You have to come back!
What?
Come back, now.
-But why? -Don't argue!
Just come back!
We have to turn back!
Now!
White smoke from the piping?
CONTROL ROOM FOR UNITS 1 AND 2
Why in the world would that happen?
I don't know.
It may be difficult for us to reenter the building.
Shift supervisor, it's dropping!
Shift supervisor! It's really dropping!
What is?
The pressure in the primary containment vessel.
Huh?
As of this moment, at 2:30 p.m.,
it's dropped to 610 kilopascals.
The white smoke
is water vapor rising from the reactor.
The compressor worked, didn't it?
Station Manager Yoshida said he would
attach a compressor to the AO vent and try opening it from the outside.
Yeah. I heard.
Does this mean the vent was a success?
That's what it means.
We did it.
Are you sure?
Well, that's one thing down.
I'm so relieved.
Yes, one down.
Hey, can you stop here?
Stop here and bring everything over there!
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI IN FRONT OF UNIT 1 TURBINE BUILDING
Trade places.
When you're done there, can you do ours next?
Hey! Careful!
Over here, too.
According to the map, the water inlet should be somewhere over here.
In that case, let's push the debris further back.
-Right. -Watabe, you help.
-Yes, sir. -I'll help too.
-Please be careful! -Is this area okay?
Don't rush!
-Watch your step. -There's no need to hurry.
Be careful of the debris.
-It's pretty long. Be careful. -Right.
-Watabe! Have them use the power shovel! -Yes, sir.
Sergeant Motoyama, reporting!
We brought the fire engine.
The injection course is being confirmed.
Sergeant Motoyama, you and your squad prepare the water pump!
Yes, sir!
-Okay. It's attached! -Hurry!
-I've submerged the pump. -Roger!
One… two… three!
-Hold this for me. -Right.
Careful, now.
There it is!
I found the water inlet!
WATER INLET
Water inlet confirmed!
-Twenty meters, straight ahead! -Got it!
There's no need to rush. Please be careful.
It's connected. Please begin pumping.
Roger!
Start the pump!
We just received word from TOEPCO
that the venting operation was a success.
Thanks to their efforts, we expect that the nuclear reactors
will begin to cool.
The amount of radioactive material
released into the atmosphere through the vent is minimal.
There is no danger to the human body
and citizens can rest easy
knowing that the situation is under control.
We can at least breathe a little easier.
Yes.
Please.
Sergeant Major Hayami!
Oh, Station Manager Yoshida…
EMERGENCY OPERATION ROOM
With local fire engines being unavailable,
the aid of the SDF means more than I can put into words.
Thank you very much.
Not at all.
However,
we'll eventually run out of fresh water.
Yes, I was concerned about that too.
What do we do?
We're simultaneously preparing for salt water injection.
Could you secure us a line from the sea?
It's physically impossible for us to draw sea water from near the building
as it's ten meters above sea level.
But if you could make it down to the wharf…
Oh, do you know where the wharf is?
The berthing pier close to the shore, right?
Yes.
We'd need you to run a line from there.
Understood.
In that location,
another tsunami would probably carry both you and the fire engine away.
Well, we too have family here in Fukushima.
We'll do anything you need.
Please instruct us as you see fit.
Thank you very much. We're in your debt.
MARCH 12, 3:36 P.M.
Has HQ approved the use of salt water?
Oh man, the toilets are a mess from the lack of water.
Something has to be done.
Yes, but do we have authorization?
In a crisis like this,
how could they deny us authorization?
I guess you're right.
What just happened?
Full face masks! Everyone put your face masks on!
-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!
-Masks! -We need masks!
Here they are.
-Over there! -We need some too.
Thanks.
Another earthquake?
Something isn't right.
I'll check in with the control room.
This is the Emergency Operation Room.
-What the hell just happened? -Maejima?
What is it? What happened?
Didn't something happen on your end?
Sorry, but…
We don't know what it was either.
I thought I heard a loud boom!
What caused it?
Forgive me, but… I don't know.
I'll find out immediately!
Wait!
Follow safety procedures.
First, confirm that the other operators are okay.
You can investigate afterward.
Understood.
The reactor building's fifth floor!
It's gone!
-Huh? -What?!
Station Manager! Where are you going?
-It could be contaminated outside! -I want to see it for myself.
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI FIRST FLOOR, SEISMIC ISOLATED BUILDING
What happened here?
What about now?
Push more on this end.
-Are you all right? -Something…
Something terrible has happened.
Steady!
I'll stop the bleeding.
-Hold it there. -Water and a towel, please.
How's the survey meter look?
This one counts up to 100,000 and it's maxed out.
There's been an influx of open air
and there's no difference between the numbers inside and outside.
Okay.
First things first. Get that door closed. Use duct tape to hold it shut.
Use boxes or whatever you have to for the back door.
We have to seal off the outside air.
-Do a safety check too. -Yes, sir!
-Careful! Hold still! -Take care of this.
Can you get through?
IN FRONT OF SEISMIC ISOLATED BUILDING
-Over here! -It exploded!
There was an explosion!
Hey! Can you hear me! Are you okay?
The reactor building… there was an explosion.
Hurry! Get them inside!
-Let's go. -Come on!
EPISODE 5
We've been told there's white smoke rising from Unit 1.
What's going on?
We, uh…
We haven't received a report from TOEPCO yet.
It's likely due to volatility.
"Volatility"?
I don't need generalizations.
Give me something concrete!
-I'm afraid that's not my role. -A fire or an explosion…
It's not anything like that?
No, that's out of the question.
Under the present conditions,
the containment vessel exploding is unthinkable.
Please check the TV!
The footage you see now was taken at 3:40 p.m.
at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
It looks like… uh, well…
There appears to be a large cloud of smoke emerging
from the Unit 1 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi.
The smoke… uh, there is a large cloud of smoke
and it appears to be traveling in a northward direction.
Can you make it out at home?
What you see now…
Mr. Minegishi, what do you call that?
I'd call it an explosion!
There appears to be a large cloud of smoke emerging
from the Unit 1 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi.
What's going on!
You just said it wasn't possible!
Chairman Wakiya, please explain.
Oh, right… I'll confirm immediately.
Get TOEPCO on the phone!
It's Vice-President Murakami.
What the hell was that explosion?
Was the reactor blown away?
Forgive me, sir. we're currently seeking confirmation…
"Confirmation"?!
You can see it on the damn television!
Just get a hold of someone at the station!
There's a lot of confusion on the ground.
-We haven't determined the cause-- -I don't need your excuses!
It's an explosion! Do you realize what this means?
I do.
Forget him.
I'll gather more information.
What the hell is happening over there?!
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NEAR UNIT 1 REACTOR
We're almost there… hang in there.
It's better to leave it in!
I'm going to stop the blood like this!
It may hurt, but you'll be all right!
Are you okay?
Excuse me. He needs his dose checked.
Can you measure him?
I'm going to lift it up, okay?
Hand me that wooden block!
The thin one!
There should be towels in the car.
Bring them here!
Zero One, Zero One. This is Double Zero. Do you copy?
Double Zero, this is Zero One. I read you loud and clear. Over.
Zero One, are you all right?
No abnormalities here. Squad Leader are you okay?
I'm fine.
Submit status update.
At the very least, everyone's alive.
One of the TOEPCO workers is seriously injured
and the hose is ruined. There's no way to continue pumping!
I'm at the seismic isolated building.
Bring your team back. The operation is aborted.
We need to regroup.
Roger!
Everyone, assemble!
The SDF forces just returned.
One of our workers was badly hurt, but his injuries aren't life threatening.
Other than that, injuries were minor. Everyone's okay!
Is that so?
Thank God…
That's a relief.
Thank God…
And so… was it like we thought? A hydrogen explosion?
I think that's safe to assume.
The returning workers had a dose of six millisieverts.
If the primary containment vessel was ruptured,
there's no way that the radiation levels would be that low.
Still, the containment vessel is exposed now.
If it's breached,
radioactive material will be dispersed into the atmosphere.
Right…
No matter what, we have to cool it down.
Can we still inject water?
The hose we spent 10 hours installing…
was ruptured by the explosion.
It's no longer usable.
We'll stretch a new hose ourselves.
Sergeant Major Hayami…
What do you mean?
The outdoor fire hydrants should have their own hoses.
We'll gather all we can find
and rebuild both the salt water and fresh water lines.
What about the fire engine? Did it survive the blast?
I don't know.
If it didn't, we'll use your power station's engine.
The one stuck in front of Unit 6.
Yeah, but…
The roads are impassable. It can't move.
We'll clear all the debris.
-Thank you very much. -Not at all.
We came here ready to respond to any and all demands.
I imagine the debris will be highly irradiated.
Clearing the debris…
is a task for us.
Thank you.
Sergeant Major Hayami!
Even if some fresh water remains,
it won't be much.
Let's give up on rebuilding the fresh water line.
Please focus on the salt water.
Roger that.
-That looks like water vapor. -I agree.
It may be part of their efforts to lower the pressure.
Uh… If they were to address the pressure
in the containment vessel--
Excuse me. We just received an update.
According to TOEPCO,
the radiation levels inside the reactor are not a danger.
-So the reactor itself wasn't blown away? -Correct.
Only the concrete exterior of the reactor building was propelled.
There were high levels of radiation at the moment of the explosion,
but afterward, it returned to normal.
That leads us to believe that it was the building that exploded,
rather than a nuclear blast.
Of all the possibilities,
it's most likely that it was a hydrogen explosion.
What's the overall situation? Including for the other units?
They're still injecting water, right?
The situation on the ground is still too chaotic
to answer in detail.
Roughly then. Tell me what you know.
To be honest, we haven't made contact with them yet.
Please confirm the situation as soon as possible.
Yes, sir!
Oh, excuse me.
If you don't mind…
VICE-PRESIDENT MURAKAMI
Yes? Oh, hello sir…
What?
Yes.
Right.
I see… understood.
I'll let them know. Goodbye.
What is it?
We've determined that a power shortage is soon to occur in the Tokyo area.
Which means, from TOEPCO's perspective,
we would like to implement rolling blackouts.
Rolling blackouts?
As expected, they're having trouble.
It will take time to re-stretch the hose.
With the distance to the shore
and the threat of another tsunami, that's only natural.
How many fire engines can they secure?
They said there were three they could use.
No good! We can't touch these!
-Let's go along the wall! -Right!
-Move the debris this way! -Yes, sir!
-He said along the wall. -Along the wall!
-Okay, let's lift this thing! -One, two, three…
-Spread it out! -Right!
I'll take that.
Coming through behind you!
-What about here? -Just push it aside.
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NEAR REACTOR UNIT 1
Squad leader!
is it really okay…
for us to be working out here?
Put any thoughts about health hazards out of your mind
just concentrate on the mission.
Yes, sir.
Sergeant Major Hayami!
Plant Manager Yoshida is calling.
-This is Hayami. -Oh, Sergeant Major Hayami!
What is it?
Well…
We have this thing called a backwash valve pit.
A backwash valve pit?
Yes.
It's a 9-meter long, 66-meter wide hole
that we use for inspection.
A hole? What about it?
The saltwater carried by the tsunami
is still built up inside the hole.
In other words, it's like a pool!
I get it.
It's pretty big too, isn't it?
Yes. If you draw water from there
using all three fire engines,
I think we can establish a continuous water flow.
I think it would be closer
than running a line to the sea.
That might work. We'll give it a try.
Please do.
-Shimura! -Yes?
-Assemble the whole squad! -Roger!
Squad! Attention!
-Gather round! -Yes, sir!
-Kato! -Yes?
-Bring me the layout and aerial photos. -Yes, sir!
-Excuse me. -Yes?
-Uh, the backwash valve pit… -Yes?
-Could you take us to it? -Of course!
We're going to establish a whole new injection line.
-Roger! -Roger!
-Is there a red and green lamp? -Yes.
That indicates the degree
to which the valve is unlocked, right?
Couldn't you look at that to tell if the valves were open?
No. At the time, both lamps were dead.
In any case, pressure inside the vessel was rising.
Something went wrong.
Doesn't that mean that the cooling devices weren't running?
At what point did they stop?
As I said,
after the 3:35 p.m. blackout brought on by the tsunami,
we had no way of monitoring what was happening in the reactors.
Pinpointing a time is impossible.
Excuse me, Prime Minister.
I have a report from Fukushima Daiichi.
While pressure initially dropped after the ventilation,
containment vessel pressure is back on the rise.
-Why? -The cause is unknown.
"Unknown"?!
What do we do if the containment vessel explodes next?
Couldn't the vent have closed?
What about the water injection?
There isn't enough fresh water
and we're told that they would like to use salt water.
What other option is there?
But if the salt water has a lot of impurities,
couldn't it spark recriticality?
TOEPCO representatives!
"Recriticality"?
Mr. Minegishi, is it possible?
Well…
I can't say that the likelihood is zero.
So it will happen?
Forgive me…
but if I'm asked if it's possible…
a likelihood of zero is--
Just answer the question!
Well? Could recriticality happen or not?
It's feasible, isn't it? You're saying salt water can't be used?
More importantly,
if salt water is used, we'll have to decommission the reactor.
We can't worry about that now!
That's not what we're discussing.
What we have to decide is if using salt water is safe!
Mr. Ishizuka!
How long will it take to inject salt water?
Up to this point, we've been using fresh water,
so to switch from one to the other
will require a fair amount of time.
How long is "a fair amount"?
At least one hour.
Very well.
Let's adjourn for now and over the next hour,
we'll explore the safety of injecting sea water.
Please reassemble in one hour.
Vice President Murakami of TOEPCO has arrived.
I called him here to discuss the rolling blackouts.
I'm sorry for disturbing you.
I had asked Mr. Ishizuka to inform you,
but it seems our explanation was inadequate.
Have a seat.
If the power stations in Eastern Japan
damaged by the earthquake remain unavailable…
during tomorrow's expected peak at 6:00 p.m.,
there will be a total blackout.
If that happens, even the power necessary
to eventually restart each station will be gone
and Tokyo will be without power for several days.
The only way to avoid that…
is for us to split the Kanto area into five groups
and implement blackouts one by one in each area.
We have no choice.
You say that like it's something natural!
Hurry up and get your non-nuclear power stations running!
-He's right! -This is TOEPCO's responsibility!
What do you mean "you have no choice"?
Hold it! Everyone quiet down!
This will be hard to accept
for residents who get medical treatment on the weekends or at home.
There are people out there on artificial breathing devices.
Is there no way for you to reconsider cutting electricity?
I sincerely apologize
but this isn't the sort of thing we can "reconsider."
It's a plain fact that we're short on power.
It's unavoidable.
What about major corporations and high-demand facilities?
Please just ask them to conserve power!
We can't just cut power to hospitals or patients receiving home treatment!
People's lives are at stake!
-Yeah! -He's right!
-Did you even think about that? -What about people on heart lung machines?
-Someone will have to explain. -Tokyo alone can't make that decision!
Hello, this is Ishizuka.
I know you're dealing with the explosion, but…
What can I do for you?
What's happening with the salt water?
We're doing it.
We asked the SDF to use the water that built up in the backwash valve pit.
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI, NEAR BACKWASH VALVE PIT
-Take it slow! -Right!
-Watch your step. -Got it.
-Please! -Be careful with that!
Coming through.
That's not what I wanted to hear.
Huh? What do you mean?
I mean, you must stop the injection at once.
Why?
We only just got the water flowing. We can't stop now.
The reactors have to be cooled as soon as possible.
Shut up and listen to me! Stop it now!
The Prime Minister's making a fuss!
What are you talking about?
The Prime Minister's staff want to confirm that it's safe first.
We can't just tell them we're already doing it.
We'll look like damned fools!
There's no way we can save face!
Is this really the time for that?
It's your job to manage the political side of things!
For the time being, just stop injecting salt water!
Got it? Do it now.
Asshole!
Well?
I imagine even major businesses will agree if you ask them.
Naturally, we've already asked our major clients to conserve electricity.
The blackout plan is on top of their understanding.
Your "clients"?
You're more concerned for them than the sick and injured?
That's not what I said.
-The point is that there are no other-- -Fine!
Do whatever you like.
But the administration will go public with its objections!
If anyone dies from this,
you can consider yourselves murderers!
We'll charge you with willful negligence!
-He's right! -If even one person dies!
-We'll hold you responsible! -You only care about big spenders!
Don't give us "no choice"! Think of something!
You don't give a damn about how this will affect elderly living alone!
-It's not as easy as you make it sound! -There's no way!
Let's… take a break.
We'll resume discussions in an hour.
There's still the salt water injections to discuss.
and we'll develop more information about the rolling blackouts.
TOEPCO, INC.
TOEPCO HEADQUARTERS CRISIS RESPONSE GROUP
-Turn the mic off. -Yes, sir.
-Is President Nishimura here? -Yes.
Major facilities will reopen tomorrow.
We're short by at least 10,000,000 kilowatts.
-Mr. President, please… -It can't be helped then!
I have information to share about the rolling blackout plan.
What did the administration say?
They said they won't give their approval.
According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Sano,
we'd be killing people who use life support in their homes.
If we do it anyway, they said they'd charge us with murder!
It was that bad.
In other words, they want us to cut power to our high-demand clients
and adjust the plan
so that people on home medical whatever
can continue their treatment.
Give me a break…
They don't understand the danger of an imminent blackout.
If a total blackout occurs, every household will lose power.
Whether they need life support or not.
It can't be helped.
We'll tell our major clients
that it's an order from a minister or the Chief Cabinet Secretary
and ask for their understanding on further cuts.
Right.
3:36 P.M. UNIT 1 BUILDING EXPLOSION
PREPARING TO INJECT WATER FROM PIT
Even after a building explodes…
they're worried about saving face with the government, huh?
The whole company's out of its mind.
Is everything okay?
Just fine.
-Kinoshita! -Yes?
Got a moment?
Sure.
The reactor's condition is still unknown
and TOEPCO are working hard to respond.
This won't be good enough.
We're ready!
What's going on with the salt water injection?
Happening as we speak.
I believe Ishizuka ordered you to stop.
He did.
But I can't very well do that, can I?
Even if we start pumping fresh water, it will deplete right away.
With salt water, supplies are endless.
There's no concern of it running out. It's the obvious choice.
You think I don't know that?
The Prime Minister's Office wants to confirm if it's safe.
Shut it down!
What do you mean "safe"?
It's absurd to think that injecting salt water
will cause a recriticality event.
Besides, I had them start without waiting for authorization.
Even if we stop now,
it won't help you save face!
We've already thought of that, thank you.
We'll just say that we did a test to assess safety concerns.
The pressure is 540 kilopascals.
It sure sounds to me like there's no time to waste.
Shut your goddamn mouth!
I'm not asking for your opinion.
I'm giving you an order.
Bottom line…
You'll inject fresh water for as long as it lasts.
Meanwhile, do what you have to do
to be ready for when the fresh water runs out
by preparing to make an immediate switch!
Suspend all salt water injection.
We're suspending salt water injection!
We'll inject fresh water first!
Connect the water inlet
to the fresh water pump.
-Right. -Yes, sir.
Satisfied?
Okay!
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NEAR UNIT 1
NEAR BACKWASH VALVE PIT
We've received word that the water levels are rising.
Great!
Before we deplete the backwash valve pit,
we should resume clearing the debris and secure a route to the sea.
Yes, sir!
The water level is rising.
It's above the TAF line!
Okay!
The salt water injection is working as planned!
Good.
That was some fine acting, sir.
I think you really fooled them.
They'd never imagine that the salt water is still pumping.
Unbelievable.
The SDF and all of our colleagues
are working their butts off amid high radiation levels.
I can't just back down.
In any case, I'm sure to be punished for this.
Everyone here… can see who's in the right.
That's why…
we can put our lives on the line.
I suppose…
I should be happy if I live to receive the punishment.
Right.
We performed the world's first ventilation
and now the world's first salt water injection.
There's no manual for this.
We're entering uncharted territory.
We have to make
our own judgments.
From now on, that's what we'll do.
Subtitle translation by: Brad Plumb