Press Release (Mar 13,2011)
Occurrence of a Specific Incident Stipulated in Article 15, Clause 1 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness
At 2:46PM on March 11th 2011, turbines and reactors of Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 (Boiling Water Reactor, rated output 460
Megawatts) and Units 2 and 3 (Boiling Water Reactor, Rated Output 784
Megawatts) that had been operating at rated power automatically shutdown
due to the Tohoku-Chihou-Taiheiyou-Oki Earthquake.
In all 3 Units, one offsite power system out of two was lost and diesel
generators were automatically activated.
At 3:41PM, diesel generators failed and as a result, all the AC power
was lost in Unit 1, 2 and 3. Following this incident, at 3:42PM, it was
determined that a specific incident stipulated in article 15, clause 1
has occurred, and level 1 emergency status was announced, together with
the notification to Ministry of Economy, Technology and Industry,
Governor of Fukushima prefecture, Mayors of Okuma town and Futaba town,
and related institutions in accordance with the law.
(already announced)
Afterwards, in Unit 3, High Pressure Core Injection System has been
automatically shut down. Re-activation of Reactor Core Isolation Cooling
System was attempted but failed, and as we were unable to confirm the
level of water injection to the reactor by the Emergency Core Cooling
System, at 5:10 on March 13th, it was determined that a specific incident
(Emergency Core Cooling System water injection inability) stipulated in
article 15, clause 1 has occurred.
UPDATE 2, released this morning as well:
Impact to TEPCO's Facilities due to Miyagiken-Oki Earthquake (as of 8AM)
Below is major impact to TEPCO's facilities due to the Miyagiken-Oki
Earthquake that occurred yesterday at 2:46PM.
*
new items are underlined
[Nuclear Power Station]
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station:
Units 1 to 3: shutdown due to earthquake
Units 4 to 6: outage due to regular inspection
* The national government has instructed evacuation for those local
residents within 20km radius of the site periphery.
* The value of radioactive material (iodine, etc) is increasing according
to the monitoring car at the site (outside of the site). One of the
monitoring posts is also indicating higher than normal level.
* Since the amount of radiation at the boundary of the site exceeds the
limits, we decide at 4:17PM, Mar 12 and we have reported and/or noticed
the government agencies concerned to apply the clause 1 of the Article 15
of the Radiation Disaster Measure at 5PM, Mar 12.
* In addition, a vertical earthquake hit the site and big explosion has
happened near the Unit 1 and smoke breaks out around 3:36PM, Mar 12th.
* We started injection of sea water into the reactor core of Unit 1 at
8:20PM, Mar 12 and then boric acid subsequently.
*
High Pressure Coolant Injection System of Unit 3 automatically stopped.
We endeavored to restart the Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System but
failed. Also, we could not confirm the water inflow of Emergency Core
Cooling System. As such, we decided at 5.10AM, Mar 12, and we reported
and/or noticed the government agencies concerned to apply the clause 1 of
the Article 15 of the Radiation Disaster Measure at 5:58AM, Mar 13.
In order to fully secure safety, we operated the vent valve to reduce the
pressure of the reactor containment vessels (partial release of air
containing radioactive materials) and completed the procedure at 8:41AM,
Mar 13,
* We continue endeavoring to secure the safety that all we can do and
monitoring the periphery.
Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station:
Units 1 to 4: shutdown due to earthquake
* The national government has instructed evacuation for those local
residents within 10km radius of the periphery.
* At present, we have decided to prepare implementing measures to reduce
the pressure of the reactor containment vessel (partial discharge of air
containing radioactive materials) in order to fully secure safety.
These measures are considered to be implemented in Units 1, 2 and 3 and
accordingly, we have reported and/or noticed the government agencies
concerned.
* Unit 3 has been stopped and being "nuclear reactor cooling hot stop" at
12:15PM.
* The operator trapped in the crane operating console of the exhaust stack
was transferred to the ground at 5:13PM and confirmed the death at 5:17PM.
Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Station:
Units 1, 5, 6, 7: normal operation
Units 2 to 4: outage due to regular inspection
[Thermal Power Station]
Hirono Thermal Power Station Units 2 and 4: shutdown due to earthquake
Hitachinaka Thermal Power Station Unit 1: shutdown due to earthquake
Kashima Thermal Power Station Units 2, 3, 5, 6: shutdown due to earthquake
Ohi Thermal Power Station Units 2, 3: shutdown due to earthquake
Higashi-Ohgishima Thermal Power Station Unit 1: shutdown due to earthquake
[Hydro Power Station]
* All the stations have been restored.
[Transmission System, etc.]
4 substations shown below have been shutdown:
- Naka Substation
- Shin Motegi Substation
- Joban Substation
- Ibaraki Substation
- Nishi Mito Substation
[Blackout in TEPCO's Service Area]
Total of about 0.31 million households are out of power.
Tokyo: 0
Kanagawa Pref.: 0
Tochigi Pref.: 7,221
Chiba Pref.: 301
Saitama Pref: 0
Gunma Pref.: 0
Ibaraki Pref: 298,977
Yamanashi Pref: 0
Shizuoka Pref: 0 (east of Fuji River)
[Supply and Demand Status within TEPCO's Service Area to Secure Stable
Power Supply]
Backup supply from Shinshinano Conversion Station: 600MW
Backup supply from Sakuma Conversion Station: 300MW
Backup supply from Higashi Shimizu Conversion Station: 100MW
Because TEPCO's facilities have been seriously damaged, power shortage
may occur. TEPCO appreciates customers' cooperation in reducing electricity
usage by avoiding using unnecessary lighting and electrical equipment.
We are taking all measures to restore power, however, we expect extremely
difficult situation in power supply for tomorrow as well.
We kindly ask our customers to cooperate with us in reducing usage of power.
Please do NOT touch cut-off electric wires.
UPDATE 3, a release from this morning:
Plant Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (as of 9am March 13th)
All 6 units of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station have been shut down.
Unit 1(Shut down)
- Reactor has been shut down. However, the unit is under inspection due to
the explosive sound and white smoke that was confirmed after the big
quake occurred at 3:36PM.
- We have been injecting sea water and boric acid which absorbs neutron
into the reactor core.
Unit 2(Shut down)
- Reactor has been shut down and Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System has
been injecting water to the reactor. Current reactor water level is lower
than normal level, but the water level is steady. After fully securing
safety, we are preparing to implement a measure to reduce the pressure of
the reactor containment vessels under the instruction of the national
government.
Unit 3(Shut down)
- Reactor has been shut down. However, High Pressure Core Injection System
has been automatically shut down and water injection to the reactor is
currently interrupted. We are examining alternative way to inject water.
Also, following the instruction by the government and with fully securing
safety, steps to lowering the pressure of reactor containment vessel has
been taken. Spraying in order to lower pressure level within the reactor
containment vessel has been cancelled.
- Currently, we do not believe there is any reactor coolant leakage inside
the reactor containment vessel.
Unit 4 (shut down due to regular inspection)
- Reactor has been shut down and sufficient level of reactor coolant to
ensure safety is maintained.
- Currently, we do not believe there is any reactor coolant leakage inside
the reactor containment vessel.
Unit 5 (outage due to regular inspection)
- Reactor has been shut down and sufficient level of reactor coolant to
ensure safety is maintained.
- Currently, we do not believe there is any reactor coolant leakage inside
the reactor containment vessel.
Unit 6 (outage due to regular inspection)
- Reactor has been shut down and sufficient level of reactor coolant to
ensure safety is maintained.
- Currently, we do not believe there is any reactor coolant leakage inside
the reactor containment vessel.
Casualty
- 2 workers of cooperative firm were injured at the occurrence of the
earthquake, and were transported to the hospital.
- 1 TEPCO employee who was not able to stand by his own with his hand
holding left chest was transported to the hospital by an ambulance.
- 1 subcontract worker at important earthquake-proof building was
unconscious and transported to the hospital by an ambulance.
- The radiation exposure of 1 TEPCO employee, who was working inside the
reactor building, exceeded 100mSv and was transported to the hospital.
- 4 workers were injured and transported to the hospital after explosive
sound and white smoke were confirmed around the Unit 1.
- Presence of 2 TEPCO employees at the site are not confirmed
Others
- We measured radioactive materials inside of the nuclear power station
area (outdoor) by monitoring car and confirmed that radioactive materials
level is higher than ordinary level. Also, the level at monitoring post
is higher than ordinary level. We will continue to monitor in detail the
possibility of radioactive material being discharged from exhaust stack
or discharge canal. The national government has instructed evacuation for
those local residents within 20km radius of the periphery because it's
possible that radioactive materials are discharged.
- We will continue to take all measures to restore the security of the site
and to monitor the environment of the site periphery.
The last release, and it's not a positive one:
Occurrence of a Specific Incident Stipulated in Article 15, Clause 1 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness (Extraordinary increase of radiation dose at site boundary)
At 2:48PM on March 11th, turbines and reactors of Tokyo Electric Power
Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 (Boiling Water
Reactor, rated output 460 Megawatts) and Units 2 and 3 (Boiling Water
Reactor, Rated Output 784 Megawatts) that had been operating at rated
power automatically shutdown due to the Miyagiken-oki Earthquake.
After the shut down, the values of radioactive materials (iodine, etc)
measured by the monitoring car have been increasing. Increase in the
measured value has also been recognized in one of the monitoring posts.
Furthermore, at 3:29PM, Mar 12, radiation dose measured at site boundary
has exceeded the limiting value. Therefore, at 4:17PM, Mar 12, it was
determined that a specific incident stipulated in article 15, clause 1
has occurred.
(as per the previous press release)
After that, the radiation dose at the monitoring post decreased once.
Today, the measured value revamped and the radiation dose measured at
site boundary exceeded the limiting value again. As such, at 8:56AM,
today, it was determined that a specific incident stipulated in article
15, clause 1 occurred.
We will endeavor to secure the safety and alongside, continue monitoring
the environment of the site periphery.
I just came across a long article by a major Dutch press agency (Novum/AP) and it mentioned some things that weren't said yet here, so I'll translate it quickly for you guys, perhaps it helps understanding the situation. I'm keeping the people of Japan in my thoughts and hope your friend is OK, Autumn! 
