some very embarrassing questions for the japanese authorities

why did it take so long to get an emergency cable to the pumps? was it 6 days? the overhead wires are already close and they must have miles and miles of cable in stock in a country that most likely makes it. the electrical infra structure is already in place and power is available from distant plants. its all interconnected. why so long? considering the state of emergency, the risk not only to its own people but other populated lands as well, would it not be a priority to string up temporary wires to the pumps and prevent meltdown. is it deliberate?

who approved the site of the building in the first place? they surely must know that an 80 foot tsunami hit in the north east in 1896.(meiji sanaiku) washing 9000 homes away and killing 22,000. and yet they build it just above sea level, in a country renowned for its quakes.

why wern't the back up generators installed on the 3rd or 4th story in a water proof room? otherwise they dont deserve the title "back up".

why did it take so long for mobile generators to get to the scene. they should take high priority. roads blocked? send in a big dozer in front of them. send in the emergency crews in front of the dozer to check for survivors and choose the best route.

at the same time, the cable answer should be getting attended to.

it seems like there were a lot of ostriches involved in the design right from the start.

Originally posted by orangutang
who approved the site of the building in the first place? they surely must know that an 80 foot tsunami hit in the north east in 1896.(meiji sanaiku) washing 9000 homes away and killing 22,000. and yet they build it just above sea level, in a country renowned for its quakes.

Good question. It's almost unthinkable they didn't anticipate a tsunami any higher than they built the sea wall.

why wern't the back up generators installed on the 3rd or 4th story in a water proof room? otherwise they dont deserve the title "back up".

That makes too much sense to me. I'm sure it would be costly to make such a structure and we have to ask why they didn't. Money might be one reason but this disaster will cost them far more money.

In my experience it's hard to get companies to spend money on disasters that haven't happened yet. Sometimes they do tend to see the world with rose colored glasses and think it won't happen to them. But an ounce of prevention would have been worth a pound of cure in this case...there apparently is no cure except a total loss on several of the reactors.

reply to post by orangutang


I think they have lost face already.

Shame is deadly in an honorable culture.

Third Line

Well, the "Authorities" response will be....
Oops, sorry. We did'nt see that coming.
In their defense though, they have a huge population for that small of an island and no real resources.
They should have just made better designs and some better failsafes.
Although it is hard to defend against Mom Nature.
Sad the events but, the Japanese folks will pull out of this and rebuild.
They are a hard people.