It's time to dispel the myths about nuclear power
Fukushima was caused by shoddy planning. From a Carnegie Endowment report[1]:<p><pre><code>  &quot;The original design-basis tsunami for Fukushima Daiichi of 3.1 
  meters was chosen because a 1960 earthquake off the coast of 
  Chile created a tsunami of that height on the Fukushima coast.&quot;
</code></pre>
Assuming that future tsunamis would be no higher than a recent historical tsunami is already silly. But it&#x27;s worse:<p><pre><code>  &quot;one compilation of historical tsunamis in and around Japan lists 
  twelve events since 1498 having a maximum amplitude of more than 
  10 meters, six of which had a maximum amplitude of over 20 meters.&quot;
</code></pre>
In 2002 they already knew the seawater pumps were located too low, but took no action:<p><pre><code>  &quot;Fukushima Daiichi’s design basis tsunami was estimated to have 
  a maximum height of 3.1 meters above mean sea level. Given this, 
  TEPCO decided to locate the seawater intake buildings at 4 meters 
  above sea level and the main plant buildings at the top of a 
  slope 10 meters about sea level&quot;

  &quot;In 2002, on the basis of a new methodology for assessing tsunami 
  safety developed by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers, TEPCO 
  voluntarily reevaluated the tsunami hazard and adopted a 
  revised design-basis tsunami height of 5.7 meters. Yet, NISA 
  neither updated the licensing documents to reflect this change 
  nor reviewed TEPCO’s analysis. Given that the revised 
  design-basis tsunami was now 1.4 meters above the seawater pumps, 
  such a review should have been conducted.&quot;
</code></pre>
[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;carnegieendowment.org&#x2F;files&#x2F;fukushima.pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;carnegieendowment.org&#x2F;files&#x2F;fukushima.pdf</a>