In the weeks following the disaster, TEPCO and Japanese regulators struggled to determine how much of the nuclear fuel had melted. Official estimates eventually settled on:
Brief Conclusion
The Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) has entered a mature phase of operation, managing the treated water storage which remains a topic of international dialogue. 2. Environmental Recovery and "One Quarter" Land Usage
Finding a permanent storage solution for the contaminated soil and debris currently held in temporary facilities. Conclusion
The ALPS-treated water release into the Pacific began in August 2023. By mid-2025, about one quarter of the total planned volume (originally ~1.37 million m³) had been discharged, with radiation levels far below safety limits.
As of mid-2026, the Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning remains focused on water management and preparing for fuel debris removal, with full-scale extraction delayed until at least 2037. Monitored ALPS-treated water discharges continue with low, stable radiation levels, while long-term environmental and health assessments proceed. For updates, visit IAEA Status Updates International Atomic Energy Agency