severe accident; serious accident
Primarily used in the context of nuclear reactor accidents, but can refer to any extremely serious accident. Often seen in news reports and technical discussions.
The severe accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant shocked the world.
Drills are conducted regularly to prepare for severe accidents.
重大事故 is a broader term for 'major accident' and is not specifically tied to nuclear contexts. 過酷事故 implies an extreme level of severity, often with catastrophic consequences.
原発事故 specifically means 'nuclear power plant accident'. 過酷事故 is a more technical term that can apply to any facility with potential for severe consequences, but is strongly associated with nuclear incidents.
Standard kanji spelling using 過酷 (severe/harsh) + 事故 (accident).
Variant spelling using 苛酷, which also means severe/harsh. Less common than 過酷事故.
Compound of 過酷 (severe, harsh) and 事故 (accident). The term gained prominence after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, becoming a standard phrase in nuclear safety discourse.