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Image: Lee Jin-man/AP Photo/picture allianceImage: Lee Jin-man/AP Photo/picture alliance

Fukushima

Twelve years after a major nuclear accident, Japan says it's safe to release water from the Fukushima-Daiichi power facility into the ocean. China and South Korea, who import Japanese food, are against the move.

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All Content on this topic

A picture of former US President Donald Trump next to the Iranian flag

A picture of former US President Donald Trump next to the Iranian flag

Why many in Iran want Donald Trump to win the US election

To Iranians, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris represent vastly different futures for the Middle East.

Damage at an Israeli restaurant in the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack on Israel

Damage at an Israeli restaurant in the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack on Israel

Iran-Israel: What are the two sides' defense strategies?

What are the strategic and military considerations that could drive Iran and Israel to either escalate, or deescalate?

Chichi-jima Island of Ogasawara archipelago, a remote part of Tokyo

Chichi-jima Island of Ogasawara archipelago, a remote part of Tokyo

Japan: Tsunami advisory lifted after earthquake

After a strong earthquake, Japan issued a tsunami advisory for the remote Izu and Ogasawara Islands south of Tokyo.

Deutschland Atomkraftwerk Isar 2 wird abgeschaltet

Deutschland Atomkraftwerk Isar 2 wird abgeschaltet

Germany's dirty secret: Its leaking nuclear waste dump

A radioactive waste dump in Germany has been leaking for decades. And nobody really knows what do to with it.

Barrels of nuclear waste

Barrels of nuclear waste

Old challenges, new solutions — MADE

Old nuclear waste, new energy policies and the labor market of the future.

Reactor building number 2 at the Fukushima nuclear power plant

Reactor building number 2 at the Fukushima nuclear power plant

Japan: Difficult Fukushima debris clean-up put on hold

Removing radioactive debris is critical to the clean-up. But operator Tepco says it's a difficult and uprecedented job.

DW Planet A Atommüll

DW Planet A Atommüll

Nuclear waste is reusable — why aren't we doing it?

French nuclear fuel company ORANO is one of the very few companies recycling nuclear fuel on a commercial scale.

DW - Global Us | Deutschland | Asse

DW - Global Us | Deutschland | Asse

Germany's nuclear waste secret

A former salt mine in Germany that became a radioactive waste dump has been leaking for decades.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fist bumps US President Joe Biden upon his arrival at Al Salman Palace in Saudi Arabia, July 2022.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fist bumps US President Joe Biden upon his arrival at Al Salman Palace in Saudi Arabia, July 2022.

Could a US-Saudi nuclear deal spark Middle East arms race?

Experts fear Saudis may use a civilian nuclear program, supported by the US, to gain their own atomic bombs. .

Rubble following a tsunami in Thailand in 2004

Rubble following a tsunami in Thailand in 2004

How do tsunamis form?

Tsunamis are rare but can cause mass destruction. Here’s what you need to know about the science behind them.

A column of smoke and ash rises from Mount Ruang on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and moves toward the neighboring island of Tagulandang.

A column of smoke and ash rises from Mount Ruang on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and moves toward the neighboring island of Tagulandang.

Indonesia volcano eruption forces evacuations

Indonesia has declared its highest level of alert after a volcano eruption on Sulawesi Island.

Spent nuclear fuel storage grounds at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine

Spent nuclear fuel storage grounds at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia: How safe is the nuclear plant?

The International Atomic Energy Agency warned Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia power plant was 'dangerously close to an accident.'

Sendung Planet A | Why people want to put small nuclear reactors everywhere

Sendung Planet A | Why people want to put small nuclear reactors everywhere

Small nuclear reactors

Why the delay in small modular reactor development for widespread fossil-free energy?

Building leans as people look on from the street, with cars parked and stopped

Building leans as people look on from the street, with cars parked and stopped

Taiwan earthquake caused destruction from coast to coast

At least nine people were killed and hundreds injured in the 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Many are still missing.

View of Flamanville reactor on coast

View of Flamanville reactor on coast

France set to commission new nuclear plant

France's state-owned energy company EDF says it has approval to load a new nuclear plant with fuel.

Royal Australian Navy U-Boot HMAS Rankin bei AUSINDEX 21

Royal Australian Navy U-Boot HMAS Rankin bei AUSINDEX 21

Australia names BAE to build nuclear-powered submarines

Australia will jointly build and operate a new class of submarine with Britain by 2040, per the AUKUS agreement.

IAEO-Generaldirektor Grossi besucht Japan

IAEO-Generaldirektor Grossi besucht Japan

Europe must accept 'global consensus for nuclear power'

Europe must provide fresh funding if it doesn't want to lose out in the global race for nuclear power, IAEA chief says.

An orange flame rises out of a cooling tower at the Neckarwestheim Nuclear Power Plant in Germany

An orange flame rises out of a cooling tower at the Neckarwestheim Nuclear Power Plant in Germany

Nuclear energy offers fossil fuel alternative — IAEA chief

Nuclear energy offers an alternative to fossil fuels with already-existing technology, IAEA chief Grossi tells DW.

Rafael Grossi spoke with DW about the pros and cons of nuclear power in Europe.

Rafael Grossi spoke with DW about the pros and cons of nuclear power in Europe.

IAEA Director General talks pros and cons of nuclear power

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi discusses in a DW interview the benefits and dangers of nuclear power in Europe.

Symbolic image of a finger pointing to seismic readings on a computer.

Symbolic image of a finger pointing to seismic readings on a computer.

Japan: 5.3 magnitude earthquake north of Tokyo

A medium-sized earthquake, with its epicenter north of Tokyo, has rattled buildings in Japan.

An aerial view shows the storage tanks for treated water at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town

An aerial view shows the storage tanks for treated water at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town

Fukushima nuclear cleanup remains plagued by complexities

Thirteen years after the nuclear disaster, Japan's costly effort to render the facility safe has faced many setbacks.

Full moon

Full moon

Russia, China eye nuclear power plant on moon

The head of Russia's Roskosmos says Russia and China are "considering" building a nuclear plant on the moon by 2035.

Protesters' iconic yellow flag with a red smiling sun. It reads "Atomkraft? Nein Danke" (Nuclear power? No thanks!)

Protesters' iconic yellow flag with a red smiling sun. It reads "Atomkraft? Nein Danke" (Nuclear power? No thanks!)

Will nuclear energy make a comeback in Germany?

Germany phased out nuclear energy in 2023, but some politicians are calling for new nuclear plants to be built.

Hochwasserschutzanlage "Mose" in Venedig

Hochwasserschutzanlage "Mose" in Venedig

Focus on Europe - Spotlight on People

Venice's flood barriers are working, but the lagoon is at risk.

Screengrabs of videos on social media

Screengrabs of videos on social media

Fact check: These earthquake videos from Japan are recycled

Out-of-context videos are circulating on social media following this week's major earthquake in Japan.

Cracks are seen on the ground in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, following an earthquake, as people wait outside in safety

Cracks are seen on the ground in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, following an earthquake, as people wait outside in safety

Japanese authorities issue major tsunami warning

A series of strong earthquakes have rattled western areas of Japan, hitting Ishikawa and nearby prefectures.

Kim Jong Un at the Workers' Party meeting in Pyongyang.

Kim Jong Un at the Workers' Party meeting in Pyongyang.

North Korea's Kim wants to 'accelerate' war preparations

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged his party to be more ready for conflict at the annual year-end meeting.

An aerial photo of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant in Japan.

An aerial photo of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant in Japan.

Japan allows world's biggest nuclear plant to restart

The safety ban on TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant has been lifted, allowing it to become operational once again.

US President Biden shakes hands with Ukraine's Zelenskyy

US President Biden shakes hands with Ukraine's Zelenskyy

What's up today!

Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the White House, South Africa to build new nuclear power plant, COP28 climate conference updates

The nuclear power plant at Fuqing in Fujian Province on December 1, 2023

The nuclear power plant at Fuqing in Fujian Province on December 1, 2023

COP28: Is a tripling of nuclear energy workable?

Twenty countries agreed at the COP28 climate summit to build new nuclear power stations to help fight climate change.

Steam rises from four nuclear plant cool towers

Steam rises from four nuclear plant cool towers

Is nuclear energy the way to achieve climate goals?

A declaration to triple capacity at UN climate talks suggests a nuclear revival. Not everyone agrees.

People gather at an evacuation center, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines

People gather at an evacuation center, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines

Tsunami threat recedes after Philippines earthquake

A powerful earthquake struck Mindanao in the southern Philippines, triggering evacuation orders for some areas.

A man stands in front of a photo of a nuclear plant

A man stands in front of a photo of a nuclear plant

Are Mali's nuclear power plans a pipe dream?

Mali has announced plans to build several nuclear power plants in cooperation with Russian energy firm Rosatom.

How can Ukraine's Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant (pictured) and other sites be protected?

How can Ukraine's Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant (pictured) and other sites be protected?

How well protected are Ukraine's nuclear power plants

Ukrainian air defense systems recently downed Russian attack drones near the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant.

DW Sendung MADE vom 24.10.2023 | Uran

DW Sendung MADE vom 24.10.2023 | Uran

Indispensable uranium from Russia?

Many countries rely on nuclear power and are dependent on the uranium producer Russia.

A person windsurfing passes across waves in front of the South African power utility Eskom's Koeberg Nuclear Power Station at Mekbosstrand, in Cape Town, South Africa.

A person windsurfing passes across waves in front of the South African power utility Eskom's Koeberg Nuclear Power Station at Mekbosstrand, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Why Africa relies on nuclear energy rather than solar energy

Many African countries are looking toward nuclear power to solve electrification challenges, but experts are worried.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

Japan begins second Fukushima wastewater release

Japan is discharging a second lot of treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant.

The village of Besnia lies in ruins

The village of Besnia lies in ruins

The worst earthquakes in recorded history

A massive earthquake has struck Morocco, leaving thousands dead. DW looks at some of the deadliest quakes on record.

Japanese fisherman in the harbour of Fukushima

Japanese fisherman in the harbour of Fukushima

Japan boosts aid to fish sector after Fukushima discharge

The release of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant has prompted China to ban Japan's seafood imports.

A picture of casks with nuclear waste in a storage hall at the Ahaus facility

A picture of casks with nuclear waste in a storage hall at the Ahaus facility

German nuclear phaseout leaves radioactive waste problem

Germany is unable to find a final repository for its nuclear waste. The problem costs hundreds of millions every year.

Fishermen handle lines on a boat

Fishermen handle lines on a boat

Japan: Fukushima water release worries local community

Local people fear that the release of radioactive water from Fukushima plant will inflict new hardships on them.

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao speaking at meeting

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao speaking at meeting

Fukushima water: Japan complains about Chinese crank calls

Tokyo has summoned the Chinese ambassador over hundreds of crank calls believed to originate from China.

Protesters hold signs reading 'Don't throw radioactive contaminated water into the sea!' in Japan

Protesters hold signs reading 'Don't throw radioactive contaminated water into the sea!' in Japan

Japan: Fukushima water release puts Kishida under pressure

Fumio Kishida is facing criticism after releasing treated radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean.

An aerial view shows the storage tanks for treated water at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town

An aerial view shows the storage tanks for treated water at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town

Japan begins pumping Fukushima nuclear plant water into sea

Japan has begun pumping more than a million metric tons of treated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant.

A person in South Korea, holding a banner showing a nuclear drum and a fish in it, to protest against the release of the Fukushima cooling water into the ocean

A person in South Korea, holding a banner showing a nuclear drum and a fish in it, to protest against the release of the Fukushima cooling water into the ocean

Fukushima nuclear water release: How safe is it?

Twelve years after the Fukushima meltdown Japan's releasing nuclear cooling water into the ocean. Questions and answers.

Japan Ableitung von Fukushima-Wasser soll beginnen | Tomoaki Kobayakawa

Japan Ableitung von Fukushima-Wasser soll beginnen | Tomoaki Kobayakawa

Japan's Fukushima decision may impact fish exports

Japan's move to release Fukushima water will likely have an impact on fish exports to Hong Kong.

A person holds a poster to protest Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant during a protest in Seoul, South Korea

A person holds a poster to protest Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant during a protest in Seoul, South Korea

Japan to release Fukushima water into Pacific Ocean

The move has sparked outrage from environmental groups who have voiced concerns about radioactive levels in the water.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and others look onto a wall chart of the facility for releasing treated water from Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and others look onto a wall chart of the facility for releasing treated water from Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

Japan PM visits Fukushima nuclear power plant

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida seeks to allay concerns over a release of treated radioactive water into the Pacific.

Atom bomb explosion in Mururoa Atoll 1971

Atom bomb explosion in Mururoa Atoll 1971

Why didn't the Nazis beat Oppenheimer to the nuclear bomb?

Fear of a German nuclear bomb spurred the Manhattan Project. But how far behind were the Nazis?

Thumbnail Fokus Europa

Thumbnail Fokus Europa

Finland: Nuclear waste disposal facility wanted

The world's first nuclear waste repository is being built in the Finnish island of Olkiluoto.