It is now clear how arrogant this self-assured attitude is. If an accident of this magnitude could happen in Japan, it can happen just as easily in Germany. All that's needed is the right chain of fatal circumstances. Fukushima is everywhere.

But really what's happened here? A historically large earthquake just off the coast of an active island arc, the plant then gets swamped by a tsunami and craps out. If it wasn't for poor design and location of the backup cooling system, the plant would have been ok. Right?