Official MJJC Support Thread - Japanese Tsunami

[Autumn II]

The world seems to have dropped into chaos. Elizabeth Taylor has died. She was such a wonderful friend to Michael, and she will be terribly missed. A bright light has gone out, with her passing.

As Milka said, there is a problem with a nuclear reactor in Eastern Europe. I do hope that situation resolves. Let us know?

The "war on Libya" is ongoing, and has eclipsed almost all other news in the U.S. But, the situation in Japan has taken a turn for the worse, this morning. They are now reporting that "thick black smoke" is billowing out of Reactor Three and personnel have been evacuated. TEPCO says, "We don't know what it is!" Give a good GUESS? There is not much left of the building to burn, so it's probably that the fuel rods are burning now?

Tap water in Tokyo has now been declared unsafe for infants. I'd assume that applies to the elderly, too, and those with compromised immune systems? The biggest danger to infants and small children is from the radioactive iodine. Don't know how much Cesium is in the water, which could affect everyone. Bottled water in Tokyo is gone, or nearly so.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/03/23/coren.japan.reactor3.smoke.cnn?hpt=C2

The world has gone quite mad. Pray for the people of Japan, and for everyone.

 

[Milka]

As Milka said, there is a problem with a nuclear reactor in Eastern Europe. I do hope that situation resolves. Let us know?

I don't think we'll hear more about that. It's not even big news over here. And they want to turn it back on today or tomorrow, so maybe they already did. I think it's one of those "little" incidents that happen all the time, but we never hear about them. What is happening in Japan is probably the only reason it even made it into the news. The damn thing doesn't even have a containment, they had a problem with their own power system, which is needed for the cooling system, and we know the rest. AND Krsko also is in a seismic zone.

 

[Milka]

Screencaps taken from this stream (ORF 9 am news today), pictures from inside the Fukushima complex:

http://tvthek.orf.at/programs/71256-ZIB-9/episodes/2074029-ZIB-9-Uhr

 

[Autumn II]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_japan_earthquake

Breach suspected at troubled Japanese power plant

<cite>By SHINO YUASA and JEFF DONN, Associated Press </cite>Shino Yuasa And Jeff Donn, Associated Press<cite></cite>&#8211; 3 mins ago

TOKYO &#8211; Two weeks after an earthquake and tsunami triggered a crisis at a nuclear plant, the facility is still not under control, and the government said Friday there is a suspected breach at a reactor. That means radioactive contamination at the plant is more serious than once thought.

Japanese leaders defended their decision not to evacuate people from a wider area around the plant, insisting they are safe if they stay indoors. But officials also said residents may want to voluntarily move to areas with better facilities, since supplies in the tsunami-devastated region are running short.

The escalation in the nuclear plant crisis came as the death toll from the quake and tsunami passed the grim milestone of 10,000 on Friday. Across the battered northeast coast, hundreds of thousands of people whose homes were destroyed still have no power, no hot meals and, in many cases, no showers for 14 days.

The uncertain nuclear situation halted work at the Fukushima Dai-ichi complex, where authorities have been scrambling to stop the overheated facility from leaking dangerous radiation. Low levels of radiation have been seeping out since the March 11 quake and tsunami knocked out the plant's cooling system, but a breach could mean a much larger release of contaminants. The most likely consequence would be contamination of the groundwater.

"The situation today at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant is still very grave and serious. We must remain vigilant," a somber Prime Minister Naoto Kan said. "We are not in a position where we can be optimistic. We must treat every development with the utmost care."

The possible breach in the plant's Unit 3 might be a crack or a hole in the stainless steel chamber of the reactor core or in the spent fuel pool that's lined with several feet of reinforced concrete. The temperature and pressure inside the core, which holds the fuel rods, remained stable and was far lower than what would further melt the core.

Suspicions of a possible breach were raised when two workers suffered skin burns after wading into water 10,000 times more radioactive than levels normally found in water in or around a reactor, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said.

Water with equally high radiation levels was found in the Unit 1 reactor building, Tokyo Electric officials said. Water was also discovered in Units 2 and 4, and the company said it suspects that, too, is radioactive. It was not clear whether the water in each unit came from the same source, officials said, but acknowledged the discovery would delay work inside the plant.

Friday marked two weeks to the day since the magnitude-9.0 quake triggered a tsunami that flattened cities along the northeastern coast. With the cleanup and recovery operations continuing and more than 17,400 listed as missing, the final number of dead was expected to surpass 18,000.

Kan apologized to farmers and business owners for the toll the radiation has had on their livelihoods: Several countries have halted some food imports from areas near the plant after elevated levels of radiation were found in raw milk, seawater and 11 kinds of vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower and turnips.

 

[Milka]

Greepeace says it's a level 7 crisis now. That would be the highest level ... like Tschernobyl.

http://www.greenpeace.at/atom-ines-stufe-7.html (German, can't find an English article)

 

[Autumn II]

Greepeace says it's a level 7 crisis now. That would be the highest level ... like Tschernobyl.

http://www.greenpeace.at/atom-ines-stufe-7.html (German, can't find an English article)

Is Greenpeace doing independent monitoring of radiation? I HOPE so.

TEPCO and the Japanese government have been lying, throughout, and that is entirely obvious. TEPCO most certainly has sophisticated monitoring equipment, and doesn't have to GUESS at radiation levels. They KNOW. By not telling the truth, they are putting their citizens at risk, and the rest of the world, as well. Japanese corporate credibility is in the toilet.

 

[Milka]

Is Greenpeace doing independent monitoring of radiation? I HOPE so.

They base it on official data from the French Radiation Protection Authority (IRSN) and the Austrian Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG).

Edit: Link in English:

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/reports/Fukushima--INES-scale-rating/

 

[bouee]

They base it on official data from the French Radiation Protection Authority (IRSN) and the Austrian Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG).

The IRSN base their estimations on the official figures, ie Tepco. More precisely, they base there estimations on radiation levels at the plant, given by Tepco + weather reports from MétéoFrance.

The IRSN has been suspecting a breach in the shell of reactor 3, and/or damage to the tank for some time now.
They have also been suspecting a leak in the spent fuel pool of reactor 3.

There is no major update from the IRSN, but I heard on the news that :

- this could be why dark smoke was seen coming out of reactor 3 several time this week. I think everytime there was dark smoke the staff was evacuated.
The experts on TV were saying that melted fuel in contact with concrete could cause the dark smoke. The melted fuel could come from the pool or the reactor. If it comes from the reactor, then it means the tank is breached and melted fuel is on the shell.
Wherever it comes from, melted fuel might go through concrete, and so through the shell, and highly contaminate the ground, and groundwater.
And of course, there is a risk of more dangerous leaks directly into the air , especially from the pool, since its roof is gone, and a risk of too much pressure within the shell, leading to a risk of explosion and other depressurisations.

-the water that irradiated the 3 workers that were taken to hospital : it suggests that the water was far more radioactive than what was expected. It's another confirmation of the above, there is a very dangerous leak somewhere.

bad news again...:no:

 

[bouee]

I also heard that food was contaminated in areas as far as 200 km from the plant (it could be due to the rain), and that some areas in the Pacific near Fukushima were also contaminated.

A French guy who lives in the city of Fukushima was saying that food was becoming hard to find. He said his wife works in a hospital, and it was becoming difficult to find food for all the patients, they have to give smaller amounts of food to them.

And I read on the Greenpeace news that the government advised people who live in a 30km radius of the plant to leave the area.

 

[Dudie]

Everytime I think ohh it's gonna be ok then it's boom bad news. Like reactor 3 is still leaking radiation due the damage as far as I know. It seems the whole world has a bit more radiation in the air now due the nuclear plant. But it's normal that there is a bit of radiation in the air (i mean we use cellphones and such) and that tiny bit more gives no health problems. Here in The Netherlands some professionals used some special equipment to see wether there was indeed a bit more in the air and there was.

I'm so worried and scared that it even does affect my health at the moment because the travel agency still doesn't give me more info then "We don't know yet, we can't look in the future" and I'm supposed to go to Japan over 3 weeks. I so not wanna go untill that nuclear plant is repared and save which can take atleast a month I heard. But there is hope they cancel my trip because they just cancelled a few trips at the beginning of april. So I keep my fingers crossed and such:angel:

Ohh and yesterday I did donate some money for Japan and I hope it goes to places where they need it and not in the pockets of those organisations or something.

 

[Autumn II]

If we do not CHANGE, and ban nuclear power, then we have learned absolutely NOTHING from the tragedy of the Japanese people. That tragedy is ongoing, regardless if we are keeping up with the news, or if we are not. The power plants continue to spread poison. A prime agricultural farmland has been contaminated, regardless if TEPCO and the Japanese government want to acknowledge that. The drinking water of Tokyo, has been poisoned, regardless if the Japanese government want to raise the level of what "poisoning" actually means, and especially for the infants and children.

In addition to our contributions, and our sorrow, there is a LESSON here, and their fate, could be ours, anywhere. I'd say, if you care, become politically active and advocate for clean energy, as soon as possible Otherwise, was ANYTHING learned?

peace-out,

"Autumn"

 

[bouee]

Irsn update today, 10am CET (7 hours ago)
in french http://www.irsn.fr/FR/Actualites_pr...Seisme-Japon_Point-situation-26032011-10h.pdf

Tepco is now injecting fresh water in the reactors and pools. But the massive amount of salt in the reactors could have / may further damage(d) the reactors and cooling systems.
There are atmospheric and liquid radioactive leaks : white smoke is coming out from reactors 123, water was found in the mchine rooms of 1234, this water is highly radioactive in 1&3.

the situation is very risky and precarious :

the shells of 2 & 3 are damaged, the core of 1 is also damaged. There are strong radiations in the buildings.
Irsn estimates this situation could last for weeks or months, and is evaluating possibles evolutions, especially if the tank in 3 is breached.

IRSN is considering the possibility of a breach in tank 3, and the possible interactions of melted materials and the concrete of the shell. This could be the reason why there are continuous not filtered leaks into environment. IRSN is examining the possible consequences on the environment.

Building in 3 is badly damaged, another explosion could threaten the integrety of the spent fuel pool.

There is no fuel in reactor 4.

restoration of electricity :

Electricity is available in all reactors.

Command rooms for reactors 123 have been connected.

The rest of the machines in reactor 2 are still being checked to see if they can be connected.

1 & 3 : the machines are not connected and currently not being checked for a possible connection to electricity, due the the presence of highly radioactive water in 1 & 3.

 

[Autumn II]

Irsn update today, 10am CET (7 hours ago)

Tepco is now injecting fresh water in the reactors and pools. But the massive amount of salt in the reactors could have / may further damage(d) the reactors and cooling systems.
There are atmospheric and liquid radioactive leaks : white smoke is coming out from reactors 123, water was found in the mchine rooms of 1234, this water is highly radioactive in 1&3.

the situation is very risky and precarious :

the shells of 2 & 3 are damaged, the core of 1 is also damaged. There are strong radiations in the buildings.
Irsn estimates this situation could last for weeks or months, and is evaluating possibles evolutions, especially if the tank in 3 is breached.

IRSN is considering the possibility of a breach in tank 3, and the possible interactions of melted materials and the concrete of the shell. This could be the reason why there are continuous not filtered leaks into environment. IRSN is examining the possible consequences on the environment.

Building in 3 is badly damaged, another explosion could threaten the integrety of the spent fuel pool.

There is no fuel in reactor 4.

restoration of electricity :

Electricity is available in all reactors.

Command rooms for reactors 123 have been connected.

The rest of the machines in reactor 2 are still being checked to see if they can be connected.

1 & 3 : the machines are not connected and currently not being checked for a possible connection to electricity, due the the presence of highly radioactive water in 1 & 3.

The situation sounds very grim, and as usual, official reports diminish the seriousness. Electricity may have been restored, but if the pumps are not functional (salt-damage, damage by explosions), then nothing has really been accomplished.

I'm wondering why they are not doing what was done at Chernobyl? Which was to drop sand, boron, and cement onto the reactors to seal them away and stop the leaks of radioactivity? Or, can this only be done when the fuel rods have cooled somewhat? Or, maybe it's just too dangerous for helicopters to fly over them? Without sealing the reactors, I don't see how this situation can resolve? And more and more radioactivity pours out. . .

 

[bouee]

yes, the situation IS very grim. Basically, leaks have become worse, they are trying to identify the source of those leaks.

If it turns out there is a breach in the tank and a breach in the shell of reactor 3, we're back to day 1 : most prabably, higly radioactive leaks will continue, in the worst case, it's an explosion of the reactor. Honestly, i believe there is a breach in both, they just won't officially confirm it because they want to be "scientifically" positive there is one.

The Irsn is a government agency (French). Still, it's unbelievable that NGOs or other goverment agencies (including the IRSN) are not checking the radioactivity measures by themselves.

The only good news is that there is no fuel in reactor 4.

As for eletricity in the pumps, they are not even checking they can restore it for the moment in reactors 1 and 3. I have no idea if they are waiting for something, or how long this will last.

I think they can not cover the plant in concrete/sand now. I think (i'm not sure), they have to cool the reactors first, and after that they probably will.

 

[Milka]

Finally:

http://www.greenpeace.org/internati...onitoring-team-begins-Fukushima-assessment--/

Fukushima, March 26, 2011: A group of Greenpeace radiation experts has today started monitoring locations around the evacuation area that surrounds the crisis-stricken Fukushima/Daiichi nuclear plant, in order to assess the true extent of radiation risks to the local population.

More at link.

I read today that there was a problem with the shut down of the nuclear power plant Isar I (one of the 7 plants that were shut down in Germany). International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) said that during the shut down the level of cooling water dropped, which led to an automatic emergency shut down.

First Fukushima (with all the downplaying and things being pretty silent now, not a lot of coverage, now that things are going REALLY wrong), then a problem in Krsko/Slovenia a couple of days ago, and then the problem with Isar 1 at about the same time - Krsko and Isar I don't even have a containment. How much more do we, do they need to put an end to this?

Back to Fukushima: Radioactivity in the sea water 1,250 times higher than normal. Last Tuesday it was 127 times higher. So what the hell happened there in the last few days?

I think they can not cover the plant in concrete/sand now. I think (i'm not sure), they have to cool the reactors first, and after that they probably will.

Tschernobyl happened on April 26, 1986, they started to cover it with lead, boron, dolomite, sand and clay on April 27, 1986. I don't know what they are waiting for in Fukushima. I really don't. But I'm not an expert - not that I think the "experts" really know what they are doing, it's not something that you can study and then just follow a plan. They don't know what to do if things get out of control, and once they start to get out of control, there is no way back and this crisis makes this very obvious.

 

[bouee]

Finally:

http://www.greenpeace.org/internati...onitoring-team-begins-Fukushima-assessment--/

Fukushima, March 26, 2011: A group of Greenpeace radiation experts has today started monitoring locations around the evacuation area that surrounds the crisis-stricken Fukushima/Daiichi nuclear plant, in order to assess the true extent of radiation risks to the local population.

yes, as you say, finally.

Back to Fukushima: Radioactivity in the sea water 1,250 times higher than normal. Last Tuesday it was 127 times higher. So what the hell happened there in the last few days?

they "suspect" a direct leak from reactor 3 into the environment (a breach in the tank, the melted fuel goes through the shell, and through the ground). The black smoke coming from reactor 3 these last days is "suspected" to be the reaction of melt down materials in contact with concrete.

Another thing they "suspect" is that the pipes and valves of the cooling systems are damaged (salt, explosions). (radioactive water in reactors 1 & 3)

I don't want to be ... but the word "suspect" is only here because they can not officially check by themselves. I'm sure they know this has happened, and they're trying to evaluate the consequences.

 

[Autumn II]

This is not a "Japanese problem," and the problems with other nuclear plants are not only the problems of those countries. This is a GLOBAL problem, and there should be a multi-national approach/solution. National boundaries do not matter when radioactivity is spewing into the air and ocean! The world should not have to rely on the Japanese "official version" to get genuine information!

Clearly this catastrophe is much, MUCH worse than TEPCO and the Japanese government will admit. There should be reliable, international monitoring, and an international team trying to solve it.

Seriously, if they could create a sarcophagus for Chernobyl, I have no idea why they have not begun that process at Fukushima. Surely they aren't wanting to try to USE those reactors, ever again?

 

[bouee]

This is not a "Japanese problem," and the problems with other nuclear plants are not only the problems of those countries. This is a GLOBAL problem, and there should be a multi-national approach/solution. National boundaries do not matter when radioactivity is spewing into the air and ocean! The world should not have to rely on the Japanese "official version" to get genuine information!

Clearly this catastrophe is much, MUCH worse than TEPCO and the Japanese government will admit. There should be reliable, international monitoring, and an international team trying to solve it.

Seriously, if they could create a sarcophagus for Chernobyl, I have no idea why they have not begun that process at Fukushima. Surely they aren't wanting to try to USE those reactors, ever again?

I totally agree with what you say, there should be an international approach to help Japan now, and to help prevent accidents in other poorer or less organised countries.

I agree with Milka, I think they don't know how to deal with this.

And Tepco has already said that they are not going to use Fukushima anymore, they consider it lost.

 

[Milka]

I don't want to be ... but the word "suspect" is only here because they can not officially check by themselves. I'm sure they know this has happened, and they're trying to evaluate the consequences.

THEY are suspect. I'm sure they know and have known a lot more than they have been telling us. I'm sure they know exactly what's going on, even if they can't really look inside those reactors. There are 6 reactors, not one of them is without problems, and it's 3 or 4 that have serious problems. In Tschernobyl it was just one. They must think the public can't count. Downplaying things won't help them in the long run, you can't really hide radioactivity. In Tschernobyl they tried, until the radioactivity ended up in Sweden 2 days later.

derstandard.at:

Biggest anti nuclear power demonstration to date in Germany today: 250,000 people in 4 cities demonstrated for the immediate shut down of all nuclear power plants, 120,000 people in Berlin, 50,000 in Hamburg, 40,000 in Munich and 40,000 in Cologne.

German power companies now want compensation for the shut down of the 7 plants in Germany. Money, money, money ... taxpayer's money. And to think what a fine job they do ... they can't even shut down one of their plants (Isar 1) without problems with the cooling water. If something happens, like in Japan ... it's also the taxpayers that pay for it, NOT the company. Nuclear power is only "cheap", because the companies don't have to pay for anything, it's always the taxpayers. Oh, and they also get subventions. That's how it looks "cheap".

 

[Milka]

Seriously, if they could create a sarcophagus for Chernobyl, I have no idea why they have not begun that process at Fukushima. Surely they aren't wanting to try to USE those reactors, ever again?

I DO think that was one of the reasons why they didn't do certain things. Because they had hopes that they can use them again, once the "little problem" is solved.

I have to try and find that again, because I'm not sure if I remember correctly, I think I heard or read yesterday that Tepco didn't allow sea water to cool the rods for days, because they didn't want to damage the rods with salt, their plan was to actually use those reactors again.

Edit: Just found it, was on the news over here yesterday.

 

[angelofhope]

The whole thing is just so shocking. It's beyond awful. It seems to be getting worse by the day. This is truly the world's problem.

 

[Ashtanga]

The whole thing is just so shocking. It's beyond awful. It seems to be getting worse by the day. This is truly the world's problem.

Yes, it is also what I see. I keep praying for Japan. :angel: ray:

 

[Autumn II]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_earthquake

Huge jump in radiation inside Japan nuclear plant

<cite>By YURI KAGEYAMA and MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press </cite>Yuri Kageyama And Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press<cite></cite>&#8211; 7 mins ago

TOKYO &#8211; Radioactivity in contaminated water in one unit of a damaged Japanese nuclear power plant tested 10 million times higher than normal, forcing the evacuation of workers and again delaying efforts to bring the complex under control, the plant's operator said Sunday.

The air in Unit 2, meanwhile, measured 1,000 millisieverts per hour &#8212; four times the limit of 250 millisieverts deemed safe by the government, Tokyo Electric Power Co. spokesman Takashi Kurita told reporters.

Word of the startling jump in radioactivity came as TEPCO struggled to pump the contaminated water from four troubled units at the overheated Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, 140 miles (220 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo. The reading was so high that the worker measuring the levels fled before taking a second reading, officials said.

Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, or NISA, had warned Saturday that radioactivity inside the units was rising fast and that extracting the radioactive water was a priority.

The discovery of radioactive water leaking into one or more units at the six-unit complex has been a major setback in the urgent mission to get the plant's crucial cooling system back up and operating more than two weeks after a massive earthquake and tsunami.

The magnitude-9 quake off Japan's northeast coast March 11 triggered a tsunami that barreled onshore and disabled the Fukushima plant, complicating a humanitarian disaster that has killed more than 10,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

The official death toll stood at 10,489 on Sunday, with more than 16,620 people missing, police said. The final death toll was expected to top 18,000.

Since the quake and tsunami, nuclear workers have raced to cool down the overheating plant as radiation made its way into food, seawater and even tap water supplies as far away as Tokyo.

Officials said the discovery Thursday of highly radioactive pools of water in some of the units led to suspicions that radiation was leaking due to a possible breach. Two workers were being treated at a hospital for possible burns sustained from wading into the contaminated water.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, speaking Sunday on TV talk shows, said the exact source wasn't clear yet but radioactive water is "almost certainly" seeping from a reactor core.

Workers were scrambling Sunday to remove the contaminated water from several units and find a safe place to store it, TEPCO officials said.

With just one pump incapable of handling the large amounts of water, two more will be brought in to help speed up the process, said Hidehiko Nishiyama, a NISA official.

The protracted nuclear crisis has spurred concerns about the safety of food and water in Japan, which is a prime source of seafood for some countries.
Radiation has been found in milk, seawater and a range of vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower and turnips.

Tap water in several areas of Japan, including Tokyo, has showed higher-than-normal levels of radiation, prompting officials to distribute bottled water to families with infants.
Just outside a reactor at the coastal Fukushima nuclear plant, radioactivity in seawater tested about 1,250 times higher than normal, Nishiyama said. He said the area is not a source of seafood and that the contamination posed no immediate threat to human health.

 

[bouee]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_earthquake

Huge jump in radiation inside Japan nuclear plant

<cite>By YURI KAGEYAMA and MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press </cite>Yuri Kageyama And Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press<cite></cite>– 7 mins ago

TOKYO – Radioactivity in contaminated water in one unit of a damaged Japanese nuclear power plant tested 10 million times higher than normal, forcing the evacuation of workers and again delaying efforts to bring the complex under control, the plant's operator said Sunday.

The air in Unit 2, meanwhile, measured 1,000 millisieverts per hour — four times the limit of 250 millisieverts deemed safe by the government, Tokyo Electric Power Co. spokesman Takashi Kurita told reporters.
.

The news here say it's reactor 2, and that radioactivity in water was 1800 higher than normal.

 

[Autumn II]

The news here say it's reactor 2, and that radioactivity in water was 1800 higher than normal.

CNN is also reporting that it was ten MILLION times normal. How is that even possible??????

 

[bouee]

CNN is also reporting that it was ten MILLION times normal. How is that even possible??????

Yes I heard that too... I'm waiting for more official confirmation. They were talking about the water in the reactor 2, saying it could come directly from the core.

 

[Milka]

Yes I heard that too... I'm waiting for more official confirmation. They were talking about the water in the reactor 2, saying it could come directly from the core.

It's all over the news over here, Tepco confirmed it.

And remember the 3 workers that stepped into highly contaminated water and were blamed by Tepco? Now they are saying the workers were not informed about the high radioactivity. Don't ever trust Tepco.

http://www.greenpeace.org/internati...r-radiation-sampling-team-in-japan/blog/33954

From our radiation sampling team in Japan

Jacob Namminga, one of our radiation safety advisors, spoke to me via Skype about today's sampling trip in a rural area of Japan, to the north west of the Fukushima nuclear plant. We'll be reporting the details of our findings once they are compiled and have been checked, but I asked Jacob to provide some reflections on what today's trip was like. This is what he had told me.

More at link.

 

[Milka]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/27/japan.nuclear.reactors/index.html?hpt=T2

Radiation readings that showed extremely high levels of a form of radioactive iodine at the earthquake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant were incorrect, the plant's owner said Sunday.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company reported earlier that water pooling in the turbine building of the plant's No. 2 reactor was 10 million times more radioactive than normal and contained a sharply elevated level of iodine-134, a short-lived isotope produced in a nuclear reaction. But the utility acknowledged that those figures were incorrect late Sunday, after Japanese regulators questioned the readings.

"Presently, we are re-sampling, analyzing and re-evaluating, and as soon as it's collated, we will make an announcement," the company said.

Right. They didn't even re-sample yet, but are sure it was an error. Right. Too bad that I won't believe Tepco anymore.

There was an anti nuclear power demonstration in Tokyo today:

http://www.euronews.net/2011/03/27/anti-nuclear-activists-march-through-tokyo/

P.S. If the level of iodine-134 was 10 million times higher than normal, re-sampling that hours later won't prove a lot, apparently iodine-134 has a half life of 52 minutes. So "re-sampling" half a day or a day later MUST lead to a different outcome. Let's just re-sample every couple of hours until we get a level that sounds a bit less scary and then do a press conference? Smart.

 

[StaceyMJ]

This is really terrifying...more like something from a movie than real life.

 

[Milka]

This is really terrifying...more like something from a movie than real life.

What we really need now is a whistle-blower like in the movies ...

Talking about movies - this is a docudrama ("Der erste Tag" - "The First Day") available in French and German about a fictional accident in a nuclear power plant near Austria:

http://videos.arte.tv/de/videos/der_erste_tag-3783540.html

Edit: Demonstration in Tokyo:

Edit II:

http://www.greenpeace.org/internati...en-evacuation-area-around-fukushhi/blog/33961

Greenpeace:
Call to widen evacuation area around Fukushhima

Our team of radiation specialists in Japan brought back their findings for the day.
The press release says it all:

Fukushima, March 27, 2011: Greenpeace radiation experts have confirmed radiation levels of up to ten micro Sieverts per hour in Iitate village, 40km northwest of the crisis-stricken Fukushima/Daiichi nuclear plant, and 20km beyond the official evacuation zone. These levels are high enough to require evacuation.

&#8220;It is clearly not safe for people to remain in Iitate, especially children and pregnant women, when it could mean receiving the maximum allowed annual dose of radiation in only a few days. When further contamination from possible ingestion or inhalation of radioactive particles is factored in, the risks are even higher.&#8221;

More at link.