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Never-Before-Seen Images Reveal How The Fukushima Exclusion Zone Was Swallowed By Nature
Never-Before-Seen Images Reveal How The Fukushima Exclusion Zone Was Swallowed By Nature
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Never-Before-Seen Images Reveal How The Fukushima Exclusion Zone Was Swallowed By Nature

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Polish photographer Arkadiusz Podniesinski travelled to the site of the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster last month to see the location with his own eyes. When he obtained permits to enter the roughly 20km (12.5 mile) Exclusion Zone, he was confronted with a scene similar to one from a post apocalyptic film. Podniesinski previously photographed the area around the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear energy plant disaster.

“It is not earthquakes or tsunami that are to blame for the Fukushima disaster at Daiichi nuclear power station, but humans,” writes Podniesinski on his website. He undertook the project so that he could draw his “own conclusions without being influenced by any media sensation, government propaganda, or nuclear lobbyists who are trying to play down the effects of the disaster, and pass on the information obtained to as wider a public as possible.”

Scroll down to see the haunting images from Fukushima Exclusion Zone yourself.

More info: podniesinski.pl (h/t: designyoutrust)

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    Abandoned vehicles are slowly swallowed up by nature on a stretch of road near the power plant

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    Some of the cars have entirely disappeared in the wild grass

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    Podniesinski shows a radiation reading of 6.7 uSv/h

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-47

    A chained-up motorcycle is slowly absorbed into the field

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    These contaminated televisions were collected and piled up as part of the cleaning efforts

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    Cobwebs hang above the scattered products in this abandoned supermarket

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-50

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    Another photo from within a supermarket feels eerily similar to those from post-apocalyptic movies

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-51

    This abandoned computer lab covered in animal droppings is from a village near the plant

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-52

    A dining table with portable cookers ready to prepare food looks like it was left in haste

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-53

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    These go-karts have had their last race in an entertainment park located within the 12.5mile exclusion zone

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    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-54

    Musical instruments including a piano litter the floor of this classroom

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-55

    The earthquake which started the tsunami damaged buildings as well

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-56

    These bicycles were left behind when residents fled

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-57

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    Classes were interrupted mid-lesson by the disaster

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-58

    An empty arcade, now without patrons

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-59

    This aerial photo taken by a drone shows one of the dump sites that contain thousands of bags of contaminated soil

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-60

    Bags of radioactive soil are stacked one on top of the other to save space

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    Landowners have been told that these contaminated bags will be disposed of, but many people remain skeptical

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-62

    Cows started to get white spots on their skin soon after the accident. One farmer believes this is due to the cows eating contaminated grass

    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-63

    “Nuclear energy is the energy of a bright future” reads the sign

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    photos-fukushima-exclusion-zone-podniesinski-64

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    Dainius

    Dainius

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    Dainius

    Dainius

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    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    MarcinFalkus
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Anyone else thought of radioactive spiders upon seeing that cobweb-shrouded supermarket? Spidey's coming!

    FionaCocksey
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And was the photographer worried incase he got bitten...

    Load More Replies...
    IvanRaykov
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    and by "bright future" they probably meant you will start glowing from the radiation

    PhilipMier
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    it was a bright future for everyone, sadly, things beyond anybody's control happened. im neither pro nor con for power plants, but there is a big difference in people's lives from those with power plants and from those with dont, and as one speaking from the latter. our electric bills are quite expensive as well as other basic commodities. so yes, there really is a bright future for countries and cities with power plants as opposed to those who dont, those who have to toil hard for basic commodities, but then again, there really is an exchange for easy living, as seen with the fukushima melt down... i just ask that you not be sarcastic about it. thanks

    Load More Replies...
    Pemberton
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The caption "Classes were interrupted mid-lesson by the disaster" is incorrect. What is written on the blackboard are love of their school and hometown and wish for the future revival of their hometown, which are apparently written after 3.11 Earthquake.

    DariaB
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was somehow most impressed by the cow picture. All the photos of post-disaster evacuated sites I've seen contain no living creature. With this cow, I depicted the panocing farmer running away without even having time and means to save his animals. And the cow stays imprisoned there... Until it dies...

    LisaDesimone
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I totally agree with your comment about Tesla.

    Load More Replies...
    BrianNolan
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I LOVE HOW THE DUMP SITE IS RIGHT ON THE SHORE!! One big wave and woosh into the ocean!!

    BenjaminDamien
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    6,7 uSv/h is a very normal radiation level, bye the way. Toxic levels are from 200mSv/h (200,000 uSv/h) and lethal levels around 5Sv/h (5,000,000uSv/h).

    Craig Wright
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That shocked me, actually. 6.7 uSV/h is hundreds of times less than the radiation we absorb from space on a daily basis. I'd really prefer it if he would have taken those readings every time he took a photo throughout the city. My guess is the above-ground radiation doesn't account for what was in the soil below his feet though. He should have used a probe instead.

    Load More Replies...
    VincentJay
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, glowing in the dark is a bright future, right?

    Sean Hudspeth
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This man is biased beyond belief; another fearmongering environmentalist who doesn't understand nuclear energy, and doesn't try to.

    AdamCzyżak
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fukushima was really old powerhouse.. That's why this accident happened.. Another powerhouse near Tokio(younger one) hasn't even touched by disaster.

    Load More Comments
    MarcinFalkus
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Anyone else thought of radioactive spiders upon seeing that cobweb-shrouded supermarket? Spidey's coming!

    FionaCocksey
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And was the photographer worried incase he got bitten...

    Load More Replies...
    IvanRaykov
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    and by "bright future" they probably meant you will start glowing from the radiation

    PhilipMier
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    it was a bright future for everyone, sadly, things beyond anybody's control happened. im neither pro nor con for power plants, but there is a big difference in people's lives from those with power plants and from those with dont, and as one speaking from the latter. our electric bills are quite expensive as well as other basic commodities. so yes, there really is a bright future for countries and cities with power plants as opposed to those who dont, those who have to toil hard for basic commodities, but then again, there really is an exchange for easy living, as seen with the fukushima melt down... i just ask that you not be sarcastic about it. thanks

    Load More Replies...
    Pemberton
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The caption "Classes were interrupted mid-lesson by the disaster" is incorrect. What is written on the blackboard are love of their school and hometown and wish for the future revival of their hometown, which are apparently written after 3.11 Earthquake.

    DariaB
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was somehow most impressed by the cow picture. All the photos of post-disaster evacuated sites I've seen contain no living creature. With this cow, I depicted the panocing farmer running away without even having time and means to save his animals. And the cow stays imprisoned there... Until it dies...

    LisaDesimone
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I totally agree with your comment about Tesla.

    Load More Replies...
    BrianNolan
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I LOVE HOW THE DUMP SITE IS RIGHT ON THE SHORE!! One big wave and woosh into the ocean!!

    BenjaminDamien
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    6,7 uSv/h is a very normal radiation level, bye the way. Toxic levels are from 200mSv/h (200,000 uSv/h) and lethal levels around 5Sv/h (5,000,000uSv/h).

    Craig Wright
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That shocked me, actually. 6.7 uSV/h is hundreds of times less than the radiation we absorb from space on a daily basis. I'd really prefer it if he would have taken those readings every time he took a photo throughout the city. My guess is the above-ground radiation doesn't account for what was in the soil below his feet though. He should have used a probe instead.

    Load More Replies...
    VincentJay
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, glowing in the dark is a bright future, right?

    Sean Hudspeth
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This man is biased beyond belief; another fearmongering environmentalist who doesn't understand nuclear energy, and doesn't try to.

    AdamCzyżak
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fukushima was really old powerhouse.. That's why this accident happened.. Another powerhouse near Tokio(younger one) hasn't even touched by disaster.

    Load More Comments
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