American Experience

S11E06 Meltdown at Three Mile Island

At 4:00 AM on March 28, 1979, a reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant close to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, unexpectedly overheated, causing the release of radioactive gases. In the intense week that followed, scientists worked tirelessly to avert a catastrophic meltdown, while officials stepped in to reassure the anxious public. Thousands of locals sought refuge in emergency shelters. A combination of equipment malfunctions, human mistakes, and sheer misfortune led to what would become the most significant nuclear disaster in U.S. history.