The Three Mile Island Accident

The Three Mile Island accident occurred in 1979 at a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, caused by a combination of equipment failure and human error. A valve malfunction led to a reactor coolant leak, which caused the reactor's temperature to rise. Automated safety systems failed to respond properly, resulting in a partial meltdown of the reactor core. Although some radioactive gases were released, the incident did not cause any immediate injuries or deaths. It highlighted vulnerabilities in nuclear safety practices and prompted widespread regulatory changes to improve safety mechanisms in nuclear power plants worldwide.