Number of workers Fukushima 50

water tower vehicles major fire departments integral emergency cooling operations

originally there approximately 800 workers on 11 march 2011, day earthquake , tsunami struck. on 15 march, workers deemed non-essential withdrawn tokyo electric power company. total of around 750 workers left due increased risk , consequently left around 50. on day media started call remaining workers fukushima 50 .

however, on morning of 16 march remaining workers had evacuated brief period of time due radiation spike detected harmful workers health. reported when returned plant, further 130 or workers joined colleagues total of around 180 stabilize reactors. number of workers rose 580 on morning of 18 march. 12 april, approximately 700 workers working on-site.

by 21 march 2011, toshiba had sent 100-strong team 2 fukushima plants part of task-force of 700 toshiba workers organized @ toshiba s isogo engineering centre defuse nuclear crisis, , hitachi had dispatched 120 fukushima , formed 1000-strong task force.

referring original 50 workers, nuclear researcher dr. eric hall opined older, , unlikely have further children, long-term effects of exposure high-levels of ionizing radiation less appear before natural death. younger workers injured , young osaka firefighters operating @ site. group of 250 skilled senior citizens volunteered work in radioactive environment, citing reduced harm them.

team leader masao yoshida died of esophageal cancer in 2013, cancer unrelated event @ fukushima, development typically takes 5–10 years.

*: task finished