Category Archives: Meltdown

New problem at Fukushima: Groundwater leaking into contaminated plant and how to dispose of it

Posted on May 4, 2013 by

 The New York Times reported April 29: Two years after a triple meltdown that grew into the world’s second worst nuclear disaster, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is faced with a new crisis: a flood of highly radioactive wastewater … Continue reading →

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New TEPCO report says damage to Fukushima Unit 2 may be worse than previously thought

Posted on March 30, 2012 by

The New York Times reported this afternoon: The damage to the core of at least one of the meltdown-stricken reactors at Fukushima could be worse than previously thought, raising new concerns over the plant’s stability and complicating the post-disaster cleanup, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fukushima, Japan, Meltdown, Plant shutdowns, Radiation leak, Reactor problems, TEPCO | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

New studies find highest levels of radiation in Japanese soil and cesium in plankton 375 miles offshore

Posted on March 23, 2012 by

Two new studies show ongoing concerns with radiation from Fukushima. As Earthweek reported today: …the Environment Ministry announced that levels of cesium have soared to 154,000 becquerels per kilogram in soil around the Fukushima prefecture village of Iitate. That’s about 25 … Continue reading →

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New study: Radiation readings around Fukushima still dangerously high

Posted on February 26, 2012 by

The Japan Times reported yesterday: High levels of radiation, including a rate of 470 millisieverts per year at one location, have been detected in municipalities near the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, according to an interim Environment Ministry report. … Continue reading →

Posted in Evacuation plans, Fukushima, GE Mark I reactor, Japan, Meltdown, Radiation exposure, Radiation leak, Reactor problems | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Drops of water fall like rain” in first video inside damaged Fukushima reactor

Posted on January 20, 2012 by

The Daily Yomiuri reported today: Tokyo Electric power Co. on Friday released 30 minutes of video footage taken Thursday inside the containment vessel of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant’s No. 2 reactor, the first such images to be … Continue reading →

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New report says lack of preparation, bad communication made Fukushima nuclear crisis worse

Posted on December 26, 2011 by

Reuters reported today: A lack of preparation and poor communication at top levels after disaster struck were among the failures that turned a nuclear accident at Japan’s Fukushima plant into the worst atomic crisis in 25 years, a panel probing … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquake, Flooding, Fukushima, GE Mark I reactor, Japan, Meltdown, Radiation leak, TEPCO | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Absolutely no progress is being made at Fukushima, says Japanese reporter‏

Posted on December 17, 2011 by

With much fanfare, the Japanese government and TEPCO announced that the Fukushima reactors were now at cold shutdown, and no signicant safety concerns remain. However, the Mainichi Daily News reported today: Conditions at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant are … Continue reading →

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Most radiation exposure was outside of Fukushima exclusion zone, according to new report

Posted on December 13, 2011 by

Reuters reported today: Residents outside the Fukushima exclusion zone were likely most exposed to radiation in the four months after the nuclear plant was wrecked by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the local government said on Tuesday. Their exposure … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquake, Explosion, Fukushima, GE Mark I reactor, Japan, Meltdown, Plant shutdowns, Radiation leak, Reactor problems | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

New radioactive water leak from Fukushima discovered‏

Posted on December 5, 2011 by

The New York Times reported today: At least 45 tons of highly radioactive water has leaked from a purification facility at the Fukushima Daiichi buclear power stationnt, and some of it may have reached the Pacific Ocean, the plant’s operator … Continue reading →

Posted in Coolant leak, Earthquake, Explosion, Fire, Flooding, Fukushima, GE Mark I reactor, Hydrogen leak, Japan, Loss of offsite power, Meltdown, Plant shutdowns, Radiation leak, Reactor problems | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

TEPCO probe finds ‘no significant errors’ in meltdown response

Posted on December 3, 2011 by

In the investigation of the Watergate breakin and coverup, Richard Nixon set a new standard for the minimum amount of acceptance of responsibility, when he acknowledged “Mistakes were made.” Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) is not that forthcoming. As the … Continue reading →

Posted in Coolant leak, Earthquake, Electrical problems, Explosion, Fire, Flooding, Fukushima, GE Mark I reactor, Hydrogen leak, Loss of offsite power, Meltdown, Plant shutdowns, Radiation leak, Reactor problems, TEPCO, Tsunami | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment