A nuclear disaster drill was held Sunday near Japan Atomic Power Co.'s Tsuruga power plant in Fukui Prefecture to simulate public responses to reactor damage caused by an earthquake-triggered blackout.
The drill was based on a scenario in which the plant suffers a serious accident that robs it of external power following an 6:20 a.m. earthquake rated at level 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale to 7.
About 3,500 people, including residents and officials from 120 public organs ranging from the prefectural government to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, took part in the drill. The participants reviewed procedures for evacuation and for setting up an emergency headquarters for the power plant offsite.
Under a hypothetical evacuation order for about 400 people who live within 5 km of the plant, residents used their cars or Self-Defense Forces vehicles to flee to a gymnasium about 25 km from the plant.
Prefectural officials from neighboring Gifu and Shiga also took part in the drill.
They also underwent radiation testing, decontamination, and communications training for satellite phones that included lessons from the Fukushima disaster.
Meanwhile, Kansai Electric Power Co. held a nuclear drill Sunday at its Oi power plant in Fukui Prefecture that engaged about 300 employees from the utility and affiliated companies.
The drill was based on the hypothetical assumption that reactors 1 to 3 automatically stopped following a total loss of power triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami, and that the No. 3 reactor lost all cooling capabilities after its turbine auxiliary feed-water system, which does not require a power source, was damaged.
The drill involved activating the cooling pump using backup generators and delivering fuel and protective suits to the plant by sea.
