Japan conducts nuclear emergency drill simulating major Tomari plant accident

Japan's government has launched a comprehensive nuclear emergency drill at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant, simulating a serious accident caused by a powerful earthquake that disables reactor No. 3 equipment and leads to a loss of cooling. Around 8,500 local residents are participating to test evacuation and response plans.

The three-day drill involves the Hokkaido prefectural government, relevant municipalities, and the Cabinet Office. It includes on-site exercises at the nuclear plant for the first time in a decade, as part of efforts to assess the preparedness of authorities to handle nuclear incidents.

The scenario assumes an earthquake off the western coast of Hokkaido that disables equipment at Tomari's third reactor and causes a loss of cooling, prompting the activation of nuclear emergency procedures and evacuation plans for nearby residents.

The exercise aims to test coordination between the national government, local authorities, and other agencies, as well as to raise public preparedness for any nuclear emergency. Japanese authorities stressed that the event is a training simulation and not an actual nuclear incident.