I think you imagine what people imagine. People are very well aware of what a nuclear meltdown means. They have Chernobyl and Fukushima as well-documented cases

I think you imagine what people imagine. People are very well aware of what a nuclear meltdown means. They have Chernobyl and Fukushima as well-documented cases: populations forced to move from their home permanently, contamination of the food supply chain that basically ruins the economic activity of the region, and the extreme difficulty to prove that your health issues are long-terms effect of the disaster.