Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio: Brian Williams) The latest developments in the disaster in Japan updated; statistics on the dead, the missing and countries offering aid cited.

(Tokyo: Lester Holt) The aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami and the growing nuclear crisis featured; details given of concerns about spent fuel rods, breaches in containment vessels, leaking radiation and the cooling efforts at the stricken nuclear plant; scenes shown of smoke and steam billowing from the plant, Emperor Akihito†† on TV, people leaving Sendai, people getting checked for radiation levels, empty store shelves in Tokyo, a rescue team searching for survivors, a body pulled from the rubble. [MAN – says people are worried because we don’t understand radioactivity.] [WOMAN – says there is no water and no food.] [British rescuer Steve DAVIS†- comments.]

(Studio: Brian Williams) The disagreement between the US and Japan about the radiation levels noted. [US Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman Gregory JACZKO†- says we believe radiation levels are extremely high.]

(London: Anne Thompson) What is behind the disagreement featured; details given about the denial from Tokyo Electric Power Co. {TEPCO} that there is problem at Reactor 4.

(Studio: Brian Williams) Report introduced.

(Miyako, Japan: Angus Walker) The difficult search for survivors in Miyako featured; scenes shown from the devastated fishing town where soldiers are searching for bodies, a boat slamming into a bridge as the tsunami came in, the lists of survivors. [WOMAN – reacts to the disaster.]

(Studio: Brian Williams) Report introduced.

(Washington: Lisa Myers) Concerns about the design of the reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant featured; diagrams shown of the Mark I†† reactors; details given about GE’s upgrades to Mark I reactors in the US and questions involving TEPCO’s record. [Former GE engineer Dale BRIDENBAUGH†- outlines his concerns.] [Federation of American Scientists Charles FERGUSON†- wonders about Japan’s safety culture.] [Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center Philip WHITE†- says we have been saying much larger earthquakes can occur than the government has taken into account.]