Original subtitles

-I'll help! -Thanks!

BASED ON TRUE EVENTS

-Ready? -Yeah.

-One, two, three… -One, two, three…

A little more!

-Again! -Right!

-One, two, three… -One, two, three…

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NEAR UNIT 2 REACTOR

-Again. -Right.

-One, two, three… -Good.

-A little higher. -There's a slope here.

Move this thing, quick!

Going up!

-Take it slow! -Yes, sir.

-Over there! -Right!

Hey! Give me that cable, quick!

-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!

-Let's lower it! -Right.

Okay! One, two, three…

There.

-Over here! -Thanks.

-Take it slow! -Make sure it doesn't get wet!

-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!

We found a switchboard. The one in the Unit 2 turbine building was active.

We're running a cable to it now.

Why would you do that?

The mobile generator couldn't make it all the way to Unit 2.

Because of the roads?

Yes.

The debris is awful.

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI ROAD NEAR NUCLEAR REACTOR BUILDING

HIGH PRESSURE MOBILE GENERATOR

ONE HOUR AND 40 MINUTES AGO

High beams!

Back up, everybody!

Let's try another route.

We'll go along the coastline to the Unit 2 turbine building.

What's going on? I don't remember a building here.

CRUDE OIL

Is that the seaside tank?

We managed to reach the south side of Unit 2's turbine building.

We'll run a cable from there to the switchboard.

But to run a cable…

That's more than 200 meters, isn't it?

-It'll weigh more than a ton. -Yeah.

How will you manage it?

We'll do it by hand.

They usually need several days and heavy machinery for that.

Can they really do it in the pitch black?

They're all we've got.

Be careful.

-Hey! Stay alert! -Right…

Whoa!

Careful!

Tremors like that won't produce a tsunami.

Keep going!

-Right! -Yes, sir!

Go on.

Ide, can you lift it over?

-Take it slow. -Everybody, okay?

We've still got a lot to go!

Let's connect this thing!

-Right! -Right!

-Katayama! -What's wrong?

Katayama…

Katayama disappeared!

-Search for him! -Right!

-Hey! -Katayama!

-Katayama! -Where are you?

-Katayama! -Answer!

-Katayama! -Are you there?

-Hey! -Katayama!

Katayama, are you there?

Somebody shine the heavy-duty light!

Here!

No good! There's a manhole!

The tsunami blew the cover off!

Hurry and find Katayama!

-Right! -Yes, sir!

Katayama!

-Katayama! -Where are you?

-Katayama! -Katayama!

-Katayama! -Where are you, Katayama?

-Hurry up and find him! -Right!

-Katayama! -Katayama!

I found him!

Katayama!

You all right?

Is he okay?

Tremors!

RUNNING CABLE TO UNIT 2 FROM SOUTH AFTERSHOCKS DETECTED AT 11:40, 11:46 P.M.

It can't be helped. Halt the mission for now.

I'll let them know.

Are you serious?

Hold on, please. I'll put him on.

Station Manager! It's Shift Supervisor Maejima!

Reactor pressure is rising in Unit 1!

What?

Unit 1 too? But…

What's going on?

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI CONTROL ROOM FOR UNITS 1 AND 2

UNIT 1 - 11:50 P.M.: ELEVATION IN CONTAINMENT VESSEL PRESSURE, 600KPA

Hey, wait a minute. Six hundred?!

Notify all staff that pressure reached 600 kilopascals at 11:50 p.m.

-Sir! -Got it. I'll issue the warning.

CONTAINMENT VESSEL PRESSURE: 600KP

I'm sorry for the bad news. It's likely that the IC isn't running.

Which means…

it hasn't been cooling, after all.

When did the IC stop?

Unit 1 is losing pressure. We're at 4,5 megapascals.

Hey, isn't it dropping too quickly?

8 HOURS EARLIER

The temperature decrease is exceeding 55 degrees per hour.

It's over-cooling.

-Shall we shut down the IC? -Yes.

Close the valves per procedure.

Then see if the drop changes.

-Yes, sir. -Can someone check the generators?

We'll go.

There might be aftershocks. Be careful.

-Right. -Yes, sir.

Unit 1, suspending IC.

Just after the earthquake…

to maintain a maximum temperature drop of 55 degrees per hour,

we opened and closed the valves a number of times.

-I'll start the IC. -Roger.

After that,

we lost power to the tsunami.

Hand me that.

There was no way to know whether the valves…

were open or closed.

"No way to know?!"

Oh, right…

You couldn't read the parameters.

It can't be helped.

No…

The water level was above TAF,

so I got complacent.

No, I'm sorry I yelled.

Well…

Well then…

this really is bad.

As of 11:00 p.m.,

the mobile generators are yet to be connected.

Due to the loss of visibility after sundown

and damage to the plant's roads from the tsunami,

the operation is proceeding slowly and power has not been restored.

When you say slowly, do you have an estimate?

We'd like to know when we can expect power to be restored.

We've confirmed a rise in pressure within Unit 1.

You said Unit 1 was being cooled!

What's going on?

What happens now?

Worst case scenario?

If the pressure in Unit 1 continues to rise,

the primary containment vessel will be breached within hours.

A containment vessel breach?

You mean a hole?

Won't radioactive material spread everywhere?

We'll be the next Chernobyl.

MUTSU CITY, AOMORI PREFECTURE FAMILY HOME OF UNIT 4 OPERATOR KIRIHARA

Whoa! That's cold!

What's the deal?

I'm freezing…

Something wrong?

-Who called? -Huh? Oh, your grandmother.

-Grandma? -She was watching TV…

and the names of missing TOEPCO workers appeared on screen…

-She said she saw Koki's name. -What?

There's still no power.

What could she be talking about?

We talked to Koki right after the earthquake occurred.

She must have misread.

I guess…

Ms. Kirihara! Are you there?

Yes!

-Sorry to disturb you! -Yes?

-Ms. Sekine? -Atsuko…

-Have you been listening to the radio? -The radio?

Koki… Koki Kirihara, of TOEPCO, age 21…

They said he's missing on the radio.

What?

I have an update from the Control Room.

Containment vessel pressure in Unit 1…

has exceeded 620 kilopascals.

SERVICE PRESSURE: 427 KPA

FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR POWER STATION APPLICATION FOR REACTOR

-It could burst at any moment… -Yeah.

CONTAINMENT VESSEL PRESSURE: 620 KPA

It's designed to run at 427 kPa…

Doesn't this mean it's out of water?

There's nothing we can do without power.

It can't last any longer, can it?

Everyone, listen up!

Can we move the motor-operated valves?

Are you thinking of venting?

Yes.

That's our only option.

A vent! We need to make a vent!

Check the procedures! Hurry!

EPISODE 4

A vent? What do you mean?

In order to divert pressure from the primary containment vessel,

they want to open the valves

and release the gas into the atmosphere.

Gas? What kind of gas?

Is it safe for it to reach the outside?

It's what we call wet well ventilation.

The gas will escape after passing through water.

What does that do?

The radioactivity of the gas will be of notably low volume.

Mr. Ishizuka…

When you say "low volume,"

does that mean it's safe?

Well… that depends on how you define "safe."

We're not here to play semantics!

Can you explain it to the nation?

Yes.

As expected, they were fairly resistant to the idea. Yes…

If radioactive material is released into the atmosphere,

it's sure to draw complaints from neighboring nations.

Until new information is available…

TOEPCO, INC.

I guess that's to be expected.

No one in the world has actually ever tried venting.

In any case, stay put in the Prime Minister's office.

If anything changes, let me know right away.

Yes, sir. But Mr. Vice President…

-There's a greater worry. -Huh?

With the power out, how will they open and close the valves?

It's not like they can push a switch from the control room.

Even if the Prime Minister does approve the vent,

can they pull it off?

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI CORRIDOR, MAIN ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING

It's even worse than we thought in here.

Yeah…

Do you think we'll find a solution?

That's what we came here to find.

For information on valve shape, structure, wiring,

and everything else… we can't rely solely

on the documents in the emergency operation room.

Another aftershock. Are you all right?

-Everybody okay? -Yes, we're fine.

Good. Let's keep going. Come on.

GAS PASSES FROM VALVES INTO THE ATMOSPHERE

I understand the principle.

The problem is the amount of radiation to be released.

How much are we talking about?

That's…

How wide should the evacuation zone be?

Uh… well you see…

Mr. Minegishi! What do you think?

Yes, well…

I must say, the rules for evacuation in a crisis

are under the purview of NISA.

Will the current three-kilometer radius be enough?

Or do we have to expand it?

Well…

That depends on various factors, such as wind direction and weather conditions.

-I can't give a specific-- -What does TOEPCO think?

In any case, if we do nothing, we risk a containment vessel breach.

To prevent that, a vent is the only--

You already explained that part!

I'm asking what we do after they start venting!

Try telling the people it was dangerous after all!

Who will take responsibility?

Isn't this what we have experts for?

Members of the Nuclear Safety Commission are academic advisors.

It isn't our job to accumulate information or define safety regulations.

Prime Minister.

The figures we've received from TOEPCO indicate…

that a meltdown has already begun.

A pressure level of 600 kilopascals

exceeds the figure of 427 kilopascals, which the vessel is designed

to operate under.

If the pressure in Unit 1 continues to rise,

it could explode

and release a heavy volume of highly radioactive material into the atmosphere.

The volume of material is nothing compared to that of the vent.

How much are we talking about?

I can't speak in detail, but…

I can say that the resulting conditions would be unfit for any human to go near.

That also means…

that we won't be able to approach Units 2 through 6.

The uncooled reactors will lose control one by one,

and all we'll be able to do is watch.

Prepare the vent immediately.

Yes, sir.

VENT DIAGRAM

RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS GAS ROUTED THROUGH EXHAUST PIPES

WET VENT: HIGH TEMPERATURE GAS PASSES THROUGH WATER…

DOCUMENT STORAGE ROOM

UNIT PIPING SCHEMATICS

-Everything okay? -Yes!

-Are you all right? -I'm fine.

I found it.

-This is it. -Yes.

What do we do for piping and wiring?

So then…

we're really taking that step.

Yes.

It's the only way to open the valves.

I guess that stands to reason.

Yes.

With the power out, opening both the MO and AO valves

can't be done from the control room

with just a switch.

To create the vent,

someone will have to enter the building and…

open the valves by hand.

Please… select the staff members who will go inside.

Yes, sir.

Let's see…

WAKKANAI, HOKKAIDO PREFECTURE

Well?

His name is Koki Kirihara.

He's a Unit 4 operator.

At the moment, we are unable to establish contact with him.

Cellular and PHS communications are both down inside the plant.

His status is unknown.

Unknown? You say it so easily…

Then why didn't you contact his family members?

My wife heard it on the news and called me in a panic!

I apologize. The situation on the ground is very chaotic,

but I'm told we're continuing to search for him.

Have you heard? Do you really think it's safe?

Who knows…

They say the pressure in Unit 1 is quite dangerous.

What happens if it explodes?

Oh, here they come.

As we continue to forecast the situation,

we became aware that pressure is rising within the primary containment vessels.

The best course of action is to create a vent and relieve the internal pressure,

as reported to us by the electric company.

The details will be explained by Managing Director Sasaoka.

I'm Sasaoka from TOEPCO, INC.

This decision was made after much debate,

and in light of judgment by the Nuclear Safety Commission and Safety Agency.

It pains me to think

of the worries felt by residents of the region.

However, there is a defined response procedure

for addressing accidents like these.

That is to release a small amount of gas

from the containment vessel.

We will follow that judgment accordingly.

Step one…

will be to release pressure

from reactor Unit 2.

I thought it was Unit 1 that was in danger.

Right…

So you will open the vent on Unit 2?

I'm Ochi, from the TOEPCO Public Relations Department.

Allow me to apologize.

According to information we've just received,

the cooling devices for Unit 2 are functioning normally.

It may be that the vent is necessary for Unit 1.

Excuse me?! Hold on a second.

They're talking about exposing the area to radiation.

Is this the best they can do?

And what time will that be?

We told the staff on site to aim for a start time of 3:00 a.m.

It's already past 3:00 a.m.!

Oh, sorry… what I meant…

is that 3:00 a.m. was the goal we set.

They are undergoing preparations now.

-They're all over the place. -Give me a break…

Have you informed the locals?

We're doing that in parallel.

I'll confirm that as well.

Prime Minister… what is it?

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency and TOEPCO are both useless.

Even the bastards at our office can't give a straight answer.

As long as you remain in the office, the flow of information will be poor.

Perhaps you should consider returning to the crisis management center?

I'm going to Fukushima.

-The Prime Minister himself? -Yes.

Station Manager Yoshida has officially ordered us…

to start venting.

Local residents will be evacuated soon.

As soon as that's done, to implement the vent,

we will enter the reactor building.

What I'd like to do now is decide who will enter the building.

Anyone willing to volunteer, please raise your hand.

I'm willing to go.

Will anyone go with me?

I'll go.

Maejima.

You have to stay here.

We need you to direct the operation.

He's right.

As Shift Supervisor, you stay here.

We'll handle it.

I'll go.

Me too!

I'll go too.

Me too.

I'm sorry, but I don't want to send the younger staff.

Any idea of the current dosage?

That was the last report we received.

11:00 P.M.: MAIN CORRIDOR SOUTH END: 0,5 MSV, NORTH END: 1,2 MSV

All we know for sure is that it will be higher than that.

In order to open the valves, we will divide into three teams of two.

Team 1…

Furuya and… Osugi.

-You got it! -Yeah.

Team 2…

Shimoda and Kumagaya.

Team 3 will be Ozawa and…

Tsuda.

Roger!

This is Maejima from the control room for Units 1 and 2.

We had no problem assembling teams.

We will now begin preparations.

I have a report from Maejima!

They're beginning preparations!

No matter what happens,

I want all of them to come back alive.

Gather every single piece of gear

we have in the whole station!

Oxygen tanks, survey meters,

protective clothing, masks…

Take everything we have

and deliver it

to the control room!

-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!

Is there no way to call this off?

The chief executive can't leave disaster headquarters in a time of crisis!

What will we do if the head of state is poisoned?

There's no doubt it will slow down the operation too!

I tried to stop him myself!

He says he's made up his mind.

You've seen how stubborn he is once he's set on something.

In any case, have preparations been made?

Yes. I've arranged a helicopter.

The Prime Minister is coming here?

I guess he wants to see things with his own two eyes.

All six screens are working.

-The signal seems okay. -Yes.

Let's just hope the lines have stabilized.

We can't make time for the Prime Minister when we're busy preparing the vent.

Can't you politely say no?

The Prime Minister himself said he wanted to go.

If we refuse,

it could look like we have something to hide.

Besides, he's already angry about the speed of information from TOEPCO.

Not my problem!

In any case, he's scheduled to leave Tokyo in a helicopter at 6:00 a.m.

You handle it.

Fine… I understand.

At least prepare masks and protective clothing on your end.

We don't know when we'll run out of them for our own staff.

About that… please handle it there.

You can't be serious!

Masks can't be reused! They're contaminated once they're worn.

What are we supposed to do if we run out of masks for the workers!

I leave it to you. Don't let me down, Yoshida!

The Prime Minister and his entourage are coming.

Please prepare for their arrival.

-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.

-Oh, uh… -Where'd the garbage can go?

HEADQUARTERS SPECIAL DISASTER RESPONSE UNIT

Are you filming? You're getting this, right?

-Yes. -Don't bother stopping.

-Right. -Good.

I see it.

-Make sure you get the PM's exit! -Right!

Prime Minister Azuma! Thank you for your time!

I'm Ando from TOEPCO, inc.

-On behalf of the company, I apologize! -Cut the crap!

This is no time for formalities!

Why haven't you begun venting?

If the primary containment vessel ruptures, Fukushima will be uninhabitable!

At the present time, we are working to begin venting as soon as possible!

If I may…

Please decontaminate over there.

Remove your shoes here.

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI ENTRANCE TO SEISMIC ISOLATED BUILDING

-Next person, please! -Here.

Show me the soles of your feet.

Now from the head down.

That's enough. Now the other foot.

All set. You may proceed.

Next person, please. Show me your palms…

Can you do this any faster?

There's still some contamination. Please wipe again.

-Hurry up! -Almost… we're almost done!

This way, please.

Please remove and carry your shoes!

-Wait, please! -Hurry the hell up!

There's no time for this!

Please leave your shoes here and change into these.

You're hours behind schedule. What other preparations could there be?

We were unable to confirm the pressure and water levels,

and our workers had to enter the building directly to assess the situation.

-It took more time than expected… -I know all of that!

You people took that into account when you set the 3 a.m. start time!

It's been four hours since then!

I'm very sorry.

-We're doing everything we can to-- -I'm sick of hearing that.

How much longer will it take you to start venting?

Once we recover power, we'll be using motorized tools to open the valves.

-I imagine it will take three hours. -Three whole hours?!

This is the umpteenth time TOEPCO has said "a little longer."

Can you really do this?

If you can't start in three hours, what will be the next excuse?

I promise that we will do it.

I'm the station manager, Yoshida.

No matter what happens, I assure you we'll do it.

-You're Yoshida? -Yes.

Allow me to explain.

Implementing the vent

requires the MO…

and AO valves to both be opened.

Normally, we'd open the MO valve with electricity and the AO with air.

But without power, as we are now…

there is only one way.

We must enter the building,

proceed to the valves,

and open them by hand.

First, the MO valve is on the second floor…

in this location.

Next, to get to the AO valve, we will enter through the reactor building,

walk through this corridor,

and take these stairs to the first underground floor.

After that,

we will circle around the reactor…

to this location…

where the AO valve is found.

Radiation at the building's entrance

has already reached 150 millisieverts per hour.

In a single hour, exposure will exceed

the yearly threshold dose of 100 millisieverts.

It's a terrifying amount of radioactivity.

The dosage near the AO valve is estimated at 300 millisieverts per hour.

Our handheld dosimeters are set to sound an alarm

at 80 millisieverts.

Even if the crew immediately leaves when the alarm sounds,

they will endure 20 millisieverts on their way out.

We don't know if they will make it back to the control room.

In total darkness,

they will only have flashlights

and headlamps to rely on.

There have been constant aftershocks, as well.

Who will go?

The operators in the control room.

Radiation poisoning will be unavoidable.

We've formed a suicide squad.

The least I can do is allow them

the maximum amount of preparation before they begin.

Please grant us just a bit more time.

Understood. Continue your preparations.

Yes, sir. If you don't mind…

Set a monkey ladder from the second floor.

-I'll go first, here. -Thank you.

At the top, I'll walk across the grating.

It's pretty narrow.

The oxygen tank will be in your way.

I could make out a number of handles.

I'll confirm the numbers.

Furu, did you at least get some sleep?

Who could sleep at a time like this?

Not even you, huh?

Not a wink…

Right.

The Prime Minister is here.

He took a helicopter to the seismic isolated building.

In the midst of a national crisis…

Is he bored or something?

Right?

Well… it should tell you how serious the situation is.

It's a terrible thing.

Because you happened to be on duty

and in the control room for Units 1 and 2 today…

you're now the first to go in.

Furuya, Osugi…

I can't thank you enough.

To the junior staff who volunteered, I'm grateful to you as well.

Once the order comes in,

we'll be opening two valves with three teams.

The valves must open.

If it can't be done…

then as a final effort, I'll go myself.

Turn the camera off.

I said turn it off!

Please.

Better leave it off.

A suicide squad…

Yes, this is Maejima.

The residents have finished evacuating.

Understood.

Begin venting.

Yes, sir.

Team 1…

Please begin.

-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.

Subtitle translation by: Brad Plumb