Nuclear power plant accidents include the Chernobyl disaster ( 1986 ) , Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster ( 2011 ) , and the Three Mile Island accident ( 1979 ) . There have also been some nuclear submarine accidents . In terms of lives lost per unit of energy generated , analysis has determined that nuclear power has caused less fatalities per unit of energy generated than the other major sources of energy generation . Energy production from coal , petroleum , natural gas and hydropower has caused a greater number of fatalities per unit of energy generated due to air pollution and energy accident effects . However , the economic costs of nuclear power accidents is high , and meltdowns can take decades to clean up . The human costs of evacuations of affected populations and lost livelihoods is also significant
Three Mile Island accident
Three Mile Island accident
Energy development