On Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. PT, Japan initiated the release of radioactive water from a nuclear power plant managed by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), more than a decade after the facility sustained catastrophic damage. On March 11, 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi plant was devastated by a massive magnitude 9.0 earthquake that triggered powerful tsunami waves, resulting in the meltdowns of three of its reactors. This incident stands as one of the most severe nuclear catastrophes in world history. The plant operator has indicated it will release the water in small quantities, with a number of safety checks in place. The initial release totalling 7,800 cubic metres (equivalent to about three Olympic-sized swimming pools), will occur over a span of approximately 17 days.
