High radiation levels detected outside nuclear plant evacuation zone

By

TOKYO, Japan –  Technicians have connected a kilometre-long power cable to reactor 2 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, after high radiation levels were detected 10 kilometres outside the evacuation zone.

The head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano, is flying to Tokyo to meet with senior Japanese government officials and to assess the situation at the crippled plant.

Self-defence forces dropped 30 tonnes of water on the plant in a bid to cool the spent fuel rods.

The priority is at two out of the six reactors — number 3 and number 4 — which are believed to be close to drying out.

Plant official Akira Yamaguchi said efforts continue to install power lines.

“For the spent fuel rod pool, there’s actually a pump that is needed to recycle the water, to circulate the water. By circulating the water, it will be possible to cool down the spent fuel rod pool and the core,” he said.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported high radiation levels are being detected 10 kilometres outside the 20-kilometre evacuation zone, meaning the radiation has reached areas 30 kilometres outside of the plant.

At the actual site of the plant, “we have indications of the sight of radiation levels that would be lethal within a short period of time,” said U.S. nuclear regulatory chief Gregory Jaczko.

The water-dropping operation had to be suspended, Thursday, because of the rising levels.

Nuclear engineer Arnold Gundersen, who was part of the regulatory consultation team at Three Mile Island in 1979, puts the pressure that is on emergency crews to keep the core cooled into perspective.

“This is not something you put out like a traditional fire. Whatever water gets into that nuclear reactor has to be sustained for months, if not years,” he told CNN.

Meanwhile, Canadian nuclear experts have defended their technology in the wake of the crisis in Japan, saying Ontario power plants have a 30-year history of safety.

Duncan Hawthorne, president and chief executive officer of Bruce Power, said they prepare for every worst case scenario.

“There will be lessons that the industry can learn, and will learn. But this ain’t Japan,” he said.

Hawthorne said if Canada does experience massive earthquakes, the structures will not be able to withstand it.

Greenpeace activists are asking the McGuinty government to stop relying on nuclear energy, because the risks are too high.

*******

In the U.S., those entering the States from Japan are being screened for radiation.

However, homeland security secretary Janet Napolitano said “we have seen no radiation, […] even on incoming cargo or passengers, that comes close to reaching a harmful level.”

Officals at Pearson Airport in Toronto told 680News that no such screening is being done at Canadian airports.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today