Video of the explosion
About the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant
The complete failure of more cooling systems has added an additional level of danger to what was already one of
the worst nuclear accidents in Japan's history.
The government has classed the accident as level four on an international scale of zero to seven.
At least 22 people are known to have been exposed
to radiation and were being treated in hospital, but
Japan's nuclear and industrial safety agency said that
as many as 160 people may have been exposed.
Tepco confirmed that the No. 3 reactor of the
quake-hit Fukushima plant had lost its cooling
functions. Yesterday a small amount of radiation leaked after similar problems hit the facility's No. 1 reactor.
Nineteen people were found to have been exposed
to radioactivity on Sunday; three more were exposed
when the roof of a building housing the No. 1 reactor
exploded the previous day.
Tepco said the No. 1 reactor had partially melted –
the first time this has happened in Japan – and was
continuing effort to cool the reactor with seawater, a
procedure a British nuclear expert described as "an act of desperation".
The company notified the government on Sunday
morning that the No. 3 reactor had lost the ability to
cool the reactor core, and that radiactive steam was
being released. Kyodo News quoted Tepco as saying
that the up to three metres of MOX fuel rods were exposed above water at the Fukushima plant.
Shaun Burnie, an independent nuclear energy consultant
and forner head of nuclear campaigns at Greenpeace, said
the presence of a percentage of fuel core loaded with
plutonium MOX fuel in the No. 3 reactor posed a
grave threat to the surrounding area.
"Plutonium MOX fuel increases the risk of nuclear
accident due the neutronic effects of plutonium on
the reactor," Burnie told the Guardian. "In the event
of an accident - in particular loss of coolant - the
reactor core is more difficult to control due to
both neutronics and higher risk of fuel cladding failure.
"In the event of the fuel melting and the release
of plutonium fuel into the environment, the
health hazards are greater, including higher levels
of latent cancer."
March 13th
Workers scramble to cool reactors;officials say second blast
is possible.
Factbox: Timeline of Japan's unfolding
nuclear crisis
About the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant
"In March 2011, in the immediate wake of the Sendai earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese government declared an “atomic power emergency” and evacuated thousands of residents living close to Fukushima I. Ryohei Shiomi of Japan's nuclear safety commission said that officials were concerned about the possibility of a meltdown."
Live TV coverage: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-gtv
Japan news in English: http://english.kyodonews.jp/
By Arun Devaraj,
Technical background to Nulcear reactor melt down possible at Japan today
How Shutdown and Core Cooling of the Japanese Reactors Likely Functions
arclight on Twitter http://twitter.com/arclight#
at World Nuclear News
Info on nuclear fuel
Monitor the flow of the jet stream here: http://www.stormsurfing.com/cgi/display_alt.cgi?a=npac_250
Ongoing MetaFilter thread
Google translation of this article from Asahi.com: "In the afternoon, to all residents under the age of 0 to 40 years from the pharmacist began to drink the water dropper with potassium iodide dissolved in distilled water. Thyroid cancer and larynx associated with radiation exposure (Koutou) to prevent cancer, was explained. Queuing in the look of dozens of worried residents waited for their order."
Japan evacuates 50,000 after nuclear power plant explosion
From Reuters on Twitter
"FLASH: Japan's nuclear safety agency says Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant No. 3 reactor's emergency cooling system not functioning"
"Japan's nuclear safety agency says Caesium radiation suggests fuel has melted in Fukushima Daiichi reactor No. 1"
"About 140,000 people have so far been evacuated from areas near two Japanese nuclear power plants after Friday's earthquake, the U.N. atomic watchdog said in a statement citing information from Japanese authorities."
A Conversation with My Dad, a Nuclear Engineer, about the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Disaster in Japan
Japanese Government Confirms Meltdown
Japan's TEPCO preparing to release radiation from second reactor
Another Japan nuclear reactor fails
The complete failure of more cooling systems has added an additional level of danger to what was already one of
the worst nuclear accidents in Japan's history.
The government has classed the accident as level four on an international scale of zero to seven.
At least 22 people are known to have been exposed
to radiation and were being treated in hospital, but
Japan's nuclear and industrial safety agency said that
as many as 160 people may have been exposed.
Tepco confirmed that the No. 3 reactor of the
quake-hit Fukushima plant had lost its cooling
functions. Yesterday a small amount of radiation leaked after similar problems hit the facility's No. 1 reactor.
Nineteen people were found to have been exposed
to radioactivity on Sunday; three more were exposed
when the roof of a building housing the No. 1 reactor
exploded the previous day.
Tepco said the No. 1 reactor had partially melted –
the first time this has happened in Japan – and was
continuing effort to cool the reactor with seawater, a
procedure a British nuclear expert described as "an act of desperation".
The company notified the government on Sunday
morning that the No. 3 reactor had lost the ability to
cool the reactor core, and that radiactive steam was
being released. Kyodo News quoted Tepco as saying
that the up to three metres of MOX fuel rods were exposed above water at the Fukushima plant.
Shaun Burnie, an independent nuclear energy consultant
and forner head of nuclear campaigns at Greenpeace, said
the presence of a percentage of fuel core loaded with
plutonium MOX fuel in the No. 3 reactor posed a
grave threat to the surrounding area.
"Plutonium MOX fuel increases the risk of nuclear
accident due the neutronic effects of plutonium on
the reactor," Burnie told the Guardian. "In the event
of an accident - in particular loss of coolant - the
reactor core is more difficult to control due to
both neutronics and higher risk of fuel cladding failure.
"In the event of the fuel melting and the release
of plutonium fuel into the environment, the
health hazards are greater, including higher levels
of latent cancer."
March 13th
Workers scramble to cool reactors;officials say second blast
is possible.
Factbox: Timeline of Japan's unfolding
nuclear crisis
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