And yet, hydropower has had even more dramatic accidents than nuclear [1], but people are fine with it.
I think it's more about the association with nuclear weapons, plus the fact that we've known fire and water for as long as modern humans have existed, while radiation is a new danger that's invisible and spooky.
Yes, exactly. Further, coal mining disasters aren't connected to the power industry that depends on them.
And nuclear accidents tend to be widely covered and sensationalized, even ones without casualties, but fires or accidents at coal plants that actually kill people are not.
I think it's more about the association with nuclear weapons, plus the fact that we've known fire and water for as long as modern humans have existed, while radiation is a new danger that's invisible and spooky.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banqiao_Dam