-
earthquake occurs
9.0 magnitude earthquake occurs off east coast of Japan causing tsunami. Electricity gone and back up generators used to pump cooling water knocked out by tsunami. Japanese authorities ordered the evacuation of residents within a three-kilometer radius of Fukushima. reactor heated up -
Unit 1 building explodes
pressure buid up causing explosion and radiation released -
Period: to
radiation leaked into water in ocean
-
water pumped into reactors by mobile generators
reactors were still being powered by mobile power generators on site.
fresh and sea water pumped in to keep water level above fuel rods -
An explosion at the Unit 2 reactor
the spent fuel pond also explodes and radiation released -
Fallout reaches US
Japan fallout reaches California but, according to an official, radiation is miniscule, far below health threat levels. -
units stabilised
-
Period: to
Scooped up contaminated soil