Thirteen years after the catastrophic Fukushima nuclear disaster, the eerie exclusion zone surrounding the plant remains a haunting reminder of the devastating event. Nuclear control rooms, hospitals, and countless apartments stand abandoned and forgotten, frozen in time since the fateful day on March 11, 2011.
It was a horrifying incident that unfolded when an earthquake and subsequent tsunami crippled the cooling systems and backup generators at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Okuma, Fukushima, Japan. As a result, three of the plant’s six reactors suffered severe damage, releasing hydrogen and radioactive materials into the atmosphere.
The disaster forced a mass evacuation of residents within a 30km radius, who were told to leave and never return. However, one urban explorer, Lukka Ventures, recently took it upon himself to venture into the ‘red zones’ around the nuclear power plant and document the area’s eerie decline.
For four days, Lukka explored the abandoned buildings of Fukushima, capturing haunting images that reveal untouched interiors. He discovered forgotten calendars still stuck on the day of the disaster, belongings scattered across floors, and a chilling nuclear bunker that once served as a training center.
Despite Lukka’s brave exploration and the passage of time, the Fukushima exclusion zone remains a place of mystery. Scientists continue to grapple with the task of decommissioning the plant, which still contains a staggering 880 tons of highly radioactive melted nuclear fuel. The full extent of the damage and the long-term consequences of the disaster remain to be fully understood, serving as a sobering reminder of the potential risks associated with nuclear power.
