BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- An independent report says Japan's response to the nuclear crisis that followed the March 11th earthquake and tsunami was woefully unprepared. The report issued Monday lists problems ranging from an erroneous assumption that an emergency cooling system was working, to a delay in disclosing dangerous radiation leaks.
The interim report was compiled by an independent panel after interviewing over 400 people, including utility workers and government officials.
The report criticized the Tokyo Electric Power and government regulators for failing to think beyond the risks for which the Fukushima nuclear plant was designed.
It said TEPCO did not take precautionary measures in anticipation that a severe accident could be caused by a tsunami, neither did the regulatory authorities. The report suggested that an adequate response plan to "a severe accident" should be constructed.
The panel’s interim report sharply contrasted with TEPCO’S own probe, which said the utility company could have had no way to prepare for the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and giant waves that sparked meldtowns and explosions at the plant.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
Special Report: Massive quake shakes Japan
