Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Tokyo: Diane Sawyer) The efforts to prevent a complete meltdown at the nuclear power plants in Japan after the earthquake and the plight of people left homeless introduced.

(Tokyo: David Muir) The plight of the band of workers left behind at the nuclear reactors that have exploded and been on fire featured; scenes shown of people who have evacuated the area; diagrams shown; details given about radiation symptoms. [Prime Minister Naoto KAN†- {thru reporter's translation} talks about the radiation leaks.] [Nuclear expert Joe CIRINCIONE - talks about the workers and the radiation levels; comments on the Chernobyl workers and the risks for Japanese workers.]

(Tokyo: Diane Sawyer) Report introduced.

(Washington: Martha Raddatz) The worst-case scenario for the nuclear power plants examined; details given about what a meltdown would mean, what happened at Three Mile island and Chernobyl, the safety system in Japan, what could be done to stop it. [CIRINCIONE - says we are heading into a Chernobyl scenario; outlines what could be done.]

(Tokyo: Diane Sawyer; studio: Richard Besser) The impact of radiation poisoning on the body, the effects on the thyroid glands of small children and pregnant women and the side effects of iodine pills discussed.

(Tokyo: Diane Sawyer) The statistics on the dead and missing cited.

(Japan: Diane Sawyer) The search and rescue operations featured; scenes shown from damaged areas of the workers calling out, the wrecked homes, American workers with dogs looking for survivors, rescues and reunions in other towns.