Tunnel collapse may have killed 200 after North Korea nuclear test - Japanese broadcaster

 

FILE PHOTO: People walk past a street monitor showing a news report about North Korea's nuclear test in Tokyo, Japan, September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

 

TOKYO (Reuters) - A tunnel at North Korea's nuclear test site collapsed after Pyongyang's sixth atomic test in September, possibly killing more than 200 people, Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi said on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation.

 

Reuters has not been able to verify the report.

 

About 100 workers at the Punggye-ri nuclear site were affected by the initial collapse, which took place around Sept. 10, the broadcaster said.

 

A second collapse during a rescue operation meant it was possible the death toll could have exceeded 200, it added.

 

Experts have said a series of tremors and landslides near the nuclear test base probably mean the country's sixth and largest blast on Sept. 3 has destabilised the region, and the Punggye-ri nuclear site may not be used for much longer to test nuclear weapons.

 

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-31

Well, they can't say they weren't warned. Dreadful that all those people had to lose their lives which I would like to think would plague a few consciences, but I have my doubts...

I wonder whether it was an accident or sabotage ?

11 minutes ago, sanemax said:

I wonder whether it was an accident or sabotage ?

I am going with an accident. They were warned the area was unstable, plus how would you infiltrate saboteurs into the area? Whitey wouldn't exactly blend in...

News reports are saying that entire mountain could collapse.  Especially if they do another test.  The radiation leak would be devastating.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Reuters has not been able to verify the report.

 

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A second collapse during a rescue operation meant it was possible the death toll could have exceeded 200, it added.

A lot of speculation here .

13 hours ago, baboon said:

I am going with an accident. They were warned the area was unstable, plus how would you infiltrate saboteurs into the area? Whitey wouldn't exactly blend in...

American warships in the area ?

A quick guided missile down the ventilation shaft ?

A racist troll baiting post has been removed

14 hours ago, baboon said:

I am going with an accident. They were warned the area was unstable, plus how would you infiltrate saboteurs into the area? Whitey wouldn't exactly blend in...

It may have been South Koreans involved in any sabotage , they would have blended in . 

15 hours ago, baboon said:

Well, they can't say they weren't warned. Dreadful that all those people had to lose their lives which I would like to think would plague a few consciences, but I have my doubts...

..diligent, committed and brave worker ants giving their life for the survival of the fat queen.

16 hours ago, baboon said:

Well, they can't say they weren't warned. Dreadful that all those people had to lose their lives which I would like to think would plague a few consciences, but I have my doubts...

Kim?

Conscience?

He will gladly destroy anything, including his own country and people to keep power.

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Reuters has not been able to verify the report.

*cough*

All speculations No Real proof at all,,,,Just Talk,,, Get the facts first,,,

11 hours ago, digger70 said:

All speculations No Real proof at all,,,,Just Talk,,, Get the facts first,,,

Read this.  Very educational.  From the experts.

 

http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/north-korea-nuclear-base-radiation-leak-fears-after-collapse/news-story/8091ba27476e38d116d137748c7a8201

North Korea nuclear base: Radiation leak fears after collapse

EXPERTS have been warning North Korea’s nuclear test site is under immense stress, leading to fears about a leak.

This is not some made up thing... China's own scientific community are raising the same alarm:

 

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2117340/chinese-scientists-warn-north-korea-about-disaster-threat-nuclear

 

Quote

 

Chinese geologists have warned their North Korean counterparts of a potential catastrophic collapse of a North Korean underground nuclear test site on China’s doorstep.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Geology and Geophysics briefed a North Korean delegation in Beijing late last month on the threat of an implosion at the mountainous Punggye-ri nuclear facility, about 80km from China’s border.

 

A day after North Korea said it detonated a hydrogen bomb at the Punggye-ri facility on September 3, a senior Chinese nuclear scientist warned that future tests at the facility could blow the top off the mountain, causing a massive collapse. The scientist said radioactive waste could bleed from cracks or holes at the site and be blown across the border.

 

 

Perhaps this will help China get more serious about NK and their nuclear program...