Meltdown Likely Under Way At Japan Nuclear Reactor

[jfchandler]

Kyodo News:

Chugoku Electric to suspend construction of Yamaguchi Pref. nuke plant

[jfchandler]

A-bomb survivors urge gov't, TEPCO to have 'more sense of crisis'

HIROSHIMA, March 15, Kyodo

Survivors of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have expressed frustration at the way the government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. are handling the crippled-nuclear-plant situation after Friday's powerful earthquake, calling on them to have ''more sense of crisis.''

''The state and the electricity firm were saying the volume (of radiation feared to have leaked) is insignificant, but I think they're taking this situation so lightly,'' said Haruhide Tamamoto, an 80-year-old hibakusha, or atomic-bombing survivor, in Hiroshima Prefecture.

''Speaking from my experience of suffering diseases and health concerns for a long time since being exposed to radiation, the horror of radiation is not like that,'' he said. ''I want them to have more of a sense of crisis.''

MORE: http://english.kyodo...1/03/78160.html

Edited March 15, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

Flight ban imposed within 30-km of stricken Fukushima nuclear plant

TOKYO, March 15, Kyodo

The transport ministry banned aircraft on Tuesday from flying within 30 kilometers of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, following a deepening crisis that has developed into brief leaks of high-level radiation.

The move, imposed under the Civil Aeronautics Law, excludes aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations, and is not expected to have a large impact on scheduled commercial flights in the country, according to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry.

Similar irregular flight bans have been imposed three times before, including one for the Group of Eight summit meeting in Hokkaido in 2008 and another for meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Yokohama last October.

Edited March 15, 2011 by jfchandler

[Tywais]

From the experiments we did in school on Physics classes, H2 +O2 = H2O, yes, but it does come with a mild explosion (looks like a white smoke, but it's a water vapour). But in school we didnt' experiment with large volumes of gases.

Not mild at all. I have direct experience of a hydrogen/oxygen explosion at a nuclear physics laboratory in the US. A researcher was using potassium to produce targets for a linear accelerator experiment. It was being done in a small room and apparently had been coming into contact with moisture/humidity for some time that build up a significant amount of hydrogen in the room.

A spark or the potassium itself generating a spark set off a VERY significant explosion. The vibration could be felt throughout the building. When I rushed down to see what happened, saw the entire wall of the setup room lying in the hallway and water pouring out from ruptured water lines.

And this was a very small scale compared to the Japanese incidents.

[bkkjames]

Radiation fears trigger evacuations in Tokyo - Several embassies advise staff, citizens to leave affected areas after third explosion at nuclear plant causes radiation leak; Japanese PM urges warns citizens to stay inside or risk

radiation sickness. http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/radiation-fears-trigger-evacuations-in-tokyo-1.349301?localLinksEnabled=false&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/954054--radiation-fears-spark-evacuations-in-tokyo-after-japan-quake?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter<br><br>

Edited March 15, 2011 by bkkjames

[jfchandler]

Radiation levels shoot up in Tokyo, vicinity

TOKYO, March 15, Kyodo News

Radiation levels shot up in Tokyo and its vicinity Tuesday following the nuclear accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan that was triggered by last week's massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami, local governments said.

But those levels did not pose immediate danger to human health, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology said.

In Tokyo, small amounts of radioactive substances, such as iodine and cesium, were detected, the metropolitan government said.

In Ibaraki Prefecture, adjacent to Fukushima Prefecture where the troubled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is located, the amount of radiation at one stage reached 5 microsievert per hour, 100 times higher than usual, the Ibaraki prefectural government said.

In Kanagawa Prefecture, the radiation level shot up 10 times higher than usual.

In Saitama, capital of Saitama Prefecture, the amount of radiation reached 1,222 nanosievert per hour -- a figure about 40 times higher than usual.

In Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, the amount of radiation showed a two- to four-fold increase, the Chiba prefectural government said.

The amount of radiation rose to 1.318 micro sievert per hour -- a figure 33 times bigger than usual -- in Tochigi Prefecture's capital of Utsunomiya, the Tochigi prefectural government said.

The science ministry said it had asked prefectural governments to observe radiation levels as frequently as possible.

Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the radiation level reached 400 millisievert per hour near the No. 3 reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 plant Tuesday morning. The amount is 400 times higher than the allowable limit for citizens in a year.

On Monday, the radiation level near the No. 3 reactor peaked at 3,130 microsievert or about 3 millisievert per hour.

Steam containing radioactive substances was released from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant as part of efforts to reduce pressures within the reactor container there.

Northerly winds brought radioactive substances from Fukushima Prefecture to Tokyo and its vicinity, nuclear experts said.

Edited March 15, 2011 by jfchandler

[ETatBKK]

till Mar 15 13.50h Japan Standard Time, Miyagi prefectures has evaculated 292,537 people from 35 municipalities, into 1,228 shelters.

translated : www.asahi.com Mar 12, 2011 at 15.46h JST

http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0315/TKY201103150102.html

[bkkjames]

a quick google of Narita and real-time shows a mass exodus of Tokyo underway.

[Shurup]

From the experiments we did in school on Physics classes, H2 +O2 = H2O, yes, but it does come with a mild explosion (looks like a white smoke, but it's a water vapour). But in school we didnt' experiment with large volumes of gases.

Not mild at all. I have direct experience of a hydrogen/oxygen explosion at a nuclear physics laboratory in the US. A researcher was using potassium to produce targets for a linear accelerator experiment. It was being done in a small room and apparently had been coming into contact with moisture/humidity for some time that build up a significant amount of hydrogen in the room.

A spark or the potassium itself generating a spark set off a VERY significant explosion. The vibration could be felt throughout the building. When I rushed down to see what happened, saw the entire wall of the setup room lying in the hallway and water pouring out from ruptured water lines.

And this was a very small scale compared to the Japanese incidents.

I did mention it depend on the gas volumes. In our school experiments it was rather small volumes with mild explosion. We didn't have a goal to blow up the school lab, just observe the result of the reaction. :jap:

[jfchandler]

With all the elevated radiation levels being reported, I think it's important to look at how those levels will change during the remainder of this day and coming days..

Most of the high readings this morning at distant locations supposedly were followed with lower readings thereafter. In other words, there was a spike, followed by a fall-off...

If the elevated levels continue or reoccur, that's going to be a bigger problem... If this morning was a one time or few time deal, a much less bigger problem in the context of the widely surrounding areas from Fukushima.

I haven't seen or heard of any subsequent radiation reading levels from the Fukushima Plant in the wake of the 10 am figures announced by the govt spokesman this morning...

[jfchandler]

There's one in every crowd....

Ishihara apologizes over 'divine punishment' remark TOKYO, March 15, Kyodo

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara apologized Tuesday for his remark that the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck eastern and northeastern Japan represented ''divine punishment'' of the Japanese people who have been tainted with egoism.

''I will take back (the remark) and offer a deep apology,'' Ishihara told a news conference, adding he should have thought about the feelings of victims.

Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai showed displeasure with Ishihara, who will seek his fourth term in the upcoming election, telling reporters that he hopes the Tokyo governor will pay consideration to disaster victims.

On Monday, Ishihara told reporters, ''Japanese politics is tainted with egoism and populism. We need to use tsunami to wipe out egoism, which has rusted onto the mentality of Japanese over a long period of time.''

''I think (the disaster) is tembatsu (divine punishment), although I feel sorry for disaster victims,'' he said.

[jfchandler]

3 prefectures prepare to accept evacuees from Fukushima nuke crisis

MAEBASHI, Japan, March 15, Kyodo

The governments of three prefectures neighboring Fukushima began preparations Tuesday to take in people fleeing radiation leaks at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, as evacuees voiced concern over the unfolding crisis. In the city of Yonezawa, Yamagata, many of those arriving are seeking medical tests to check the radiation levels to which they have been exposed, officials said.

At the city's public health centers, officials are giving priority to evacuees who have fled areas within a 20-kilometer radius of the nuclear plant battling to contain high-level radiation leaks.

The Yamagata prefectural government started compiling a list of facilities that can be used as shelters, and the Gunma government said it is ready to take in evacuees at some 190 public housing units. Some municipal governments have already started accepting them.

MORE: http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/78177.html

[jfchandler]

Cabinet Sec. Edano holding news conference now... reporting that radiation levels measured at the plant gate of the Fukushima Daiichi plant have fallen from earlier levels, based on readings at both noon and 3:30 pm...

I believe he indicated the 3:30 pm reading at the plant gate was just under 600 microsievert, which would be .6 millisievert per hour. That compared with a 9 am reading at the plant gate of about 11 millisievert.

Compared to the high reading this morning inside the plant of 400 millisievert per hour.

Edited March 15, 2011 by jfchandler

[bkkjames]

From Facebook page; US 7th Fleet (i posted this here at the 7th fleet had to move out of the fall-out zone, their fb page is kept fairly up to date)

Operation TOMODACHI Update

by Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific on Tuesday, 15 March 2011 at 11:58Several U.S. Navy ships and units are assisting in Operation TOMODACHI ("Friend") off the coast of Japan. U.S. Navy ships and aircraft are scouring debris fields and vessels swept to sea for survivors, and providing refueling for helicopters from the Japan Self Defense Force, Japan Coast Guard and other agencies, while helicopters and aircraft are flying food, water and blankets to affected persons ashore. Units include:

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)

USS Chancellorsville (CG 62)

USS Preble (DDG 88)

USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10)

USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62)

USS John S. McCain (DDG 56)

USS McCampbell (DDG 85)

USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54)

USS Mustin (DDG 89)

Additional Navy ships and aircraft are en route, and will arrive in coming days.

110314-N-NB544-022 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 14, 2011) Sailors assigned to the Black Knights of Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 load supplies onto an HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan is off the coast of Japan rendering humanitarian assistance following an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle Carlstrom/Released)110313-N-SB672-164 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 13, 2011) A Japanese home is seen adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are searching for survivors in the coastal waters near Sendai, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan McCord/Released)110313-N-SB672-592 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 13, 2011) An aerial view of debris from an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck northern Japan. The debris was inspected by a helicopter-based search and rescue team from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are searching for survivors in the coastal waters near Sendai, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan McCord/Released)110313-N-SB672-399 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 13, 2011) Naval air crewmen assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 inspect debris drifting in the Pacific Ocean from an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck northern Japan. Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are searching for survivors in the coastal waters near Sendai, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan McCord/Released)

[ETatBKK]

With all the elevated radiation levels being reported, I think it's important to look at how those levels will change during the remainder of this day and coming days..

Most of the high readings this morning at distant locations supposedly were followed with lower readings thereafter. In other words, there was a spike, followed by a fall-off...

If the elevated levels continue or reoccur, that's going to be a bigger problem... If this morning was a one time or few time deal, a much less bigger problem in the context of the widely surrounding areas from Fukushima.

I haven't seen or heard of any subsequent radiation reading levels from the Fukushima Plant in the wake of the 10 am figures announced by the govt spokesman this morning...

following news line from asahi.com may tell something :

'at Shinjuku, Tokyo, detected up to 21 times of the normal radiation, at maximum value 0.809 microsievert. this small amount may not affect human body.

Mar 15, at 03.00h the level was 0.038 microsievert; at 04.00 the level was 0.147 microsievert. at 07.00h the level was 0.051 microsievert, then at 09.00h the level increased to 0.465 microsievert, and at 10.00h the level was recorded at 0.809 microsievert.'

translated : www.asahi.com Mar 15, 2011 at 15.35h JST

[webfact]

IAEA says Japanese authorities have confirmed that the fire at the spent fuel storage pond at Unit 4 reactor was extinguished at 0200 UTC /BNONews

Kyodo: Cooling of No. 5, No. 6 reactors appears not to be working properly: Edano /RT @mpoppel:

[jfchandler]

NHK quoting government officials as saying the fire at Reactor No. 4 began after 9:30 am today on the fourth level of the reactor...and believe it may have been related to a pool of hundreds of stored/spent nuclear fuel rods kept there that had overheated, reaching twice its normal temperature.

Also saying presently, Edano reports that reactors No. 1 and 3 are getting a stable water supply. No. 2 getting water, but not characterized as stable.

[jfchandler]

Right, those times up thru 10 am are reflecting the spike, possibly related to the Reactor 4 fire or earlier No. 2 hydrogen explosion this morning.

It will be interesting to see how those numbers fare by the afternoon...

following news line from asahi.com may tell something :

'at Shinjuku, Tokyo, detected up to 21 times of the normal radiation, at maximum value 0.809 microsievert. this small amount may not affect human body.

Mar 15, at 03.00h the level was 0.038 microsievert; at 04.00 the level was 0.147 microsievert. at 07.00h the level was 0.051 microsievert, then at 09.00h the level increased to 0.465 microsievert, and at 10.00h the level was recorded at 0.809 microsievert.'

[ETatBKK]

Mar 15, noon, residents around 20km to 30km been asked to stay home. it estimated there are 136,000 people from 8 municipalities of Fukushima prefecture.

translated : www.asahi.com Mar 15, 2011 at 16.31h JST

Japan Prime Minister Naoto Kan delivered a message to the nation at 11.15h,

and ask residents around 20km to 30km from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant,

to stay home and to avoid possible radiation.

translated : www.asahi.com Mar 15, 2011 at 11.21h Japan time

[bkkjames]

• NEWS ADVISORY: Japan to calmly keep close tabs on market moves after quake: Edano (16:46)
• BREAKING NEWS: Cooling of No. 5, No. 6 reactors appears not to be working properly: Edano (16:42)
• BREAKING NEWS: Remains to be seen if water smoothly injected into No. 2 reactor: Edano (16:39)
• NEWS ADVISORY: Edano denies continued release of high radiation around No. 4 reactor (16:36)
• BREAKING NEWS: Gov't has option to purchase stocks: Yosano (16:35)
• NEWS ADVISORY: No worry about outlook for Japanese stock prices: Yosano (16:32)
• NEWS ADVISORY: Stock markets to recover, become calm soon: minister Yosano (16:32)

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/77943.html

[jfchandler]

From NHK, re Reactor 4 that had the fire this morning:

No.4 reactor chronology

The No.4 reactor at the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant had been shut down for regular inspection since November last year.

There was no nuclear fuel in the reactor, and its 783 fuel rods had been removed to a pool for spent nuclear waste.

The pool's temperature more than doubled to 84 degrees Celsius as of 4:18 AM on Monday after its cooling system broke down.

An explosion occurred at around 6:00 AM on Tuesday. The roof of the No.4 reactor building was found to have been damaged.

At around 9:00 AM, a fire was confirmed in the reactor building. The plant's operator promptly issued an emergency alert.

The fire was later put out, but a radiation level of 100 millisieverts per hour was detected around the reactor building at 10:22 AM on Tuesday.

The blast may have been a hydrogen explosion triggered by vaporization of the pool water, which resulted in fuel rods being exposed.

The plant's operator is rushing to cool the reactor by injecting water, as it did for the No.1 and No.3 reactors.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 16:05 +0900 (JST)

[Crushdepth]

Kyodo: Cooling of No. 5, No. 6 reactors appears not to be working properly: Edano /RT @mpoppel:

You've got to be kidding...

[jfchandler]

The No. 2 reactor appears to be the one considered to have the greatest potential damage and risk at present, due to the long periods during which its fuel rods have been totally uncovered from water.

From NHK:

No.2 reactor chronology

Three of the 6 nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Number One nuclear power plant automatically halted operations at 2:46 PM on Friday after the earthquake struck.

But the emergency power generator to cool the reactors failed to work.

Tokyo Electric Power Company notified the government that a state of emergency existed based on laws governing nuclear issues. The government then instructed nearby residents to evacuate.

At the No.2 reactor, the cooling water had partially evaporated, considerably reducing the water level inside the nuclear containment vessel.

Two days after the earthquake, on Sunday, the pressure rose.

To prevent the container from being damaged, work began to release the inside air which includes radioactive substances.

But on Monday, the pressure increased further, and the water level also dropped.

TEPCO began to pump in sea water on Monday afternoon. But the pump ran out of fuel and the water level remained low. The 4 meter tall fuel rods are believed to have been fully exposed for 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Shortly after 9:30 PM [Monday], high levels of radiation measuring 3,130 microsieverts [3.1 millisieverts] per hour were recorded near the plant gates. It is believed that the fuel rods were likely damaged and melted.

At around 6:10 Tuesday morning, an explosion was heard near a facility known as the suppression pool, which adjusts the pressure of the No.2 reactor.

At one point immediately after the explosion, radiation levels near the power plant reached 965.5 microsieverts [1 millisievert per hour].

The facility is believed to have sustained damage, and radioactive substances are unlikely to have been sufficiently contained.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 16:05 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.j...lish/15_36.html

Edited March 15, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

From NHK:

No.3 reactor chronology

Immediately after the earthquake, water was pumped into the No.3 nuclear reactor of the stricken Fukushima plant to prevent overheating.

But 2 days later, on Sunday, the system to provide water stopped operating and an emergency was declared.

The pressure in the reactor's containment vessel rose while the water level dropped, leaving some of the fuel rods exposed and possibly damaging and causing them to melt.

So work began to pump sea water into the reactor, but the operation was suspended due to a lack of water.

Shortly after 11:00 AM on Monday, the hydrogen which had accumulated inside the No.3 reactor exploded, blowing away the ceiling and outer walls.

Eleven TEPCO employees and Self Defense Force members were injured.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 14:32 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.j...lish/15_35.html

Edited March 15, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

Based on NHK's translation, let me recap the radiation readings at the plant gate of Fukushima Daiichi that Cabinet Sec. Edano announced this morning

8:31 am -- 8,217 microsievert or 8.2 millisievert per hour, an amount NHK described as the equivalent of three years worth of natural radiation exposure.

9:30 am - 11,930 microsievert or almost 12 millisievert per hour.

12:30 pm -- 1,362 microsievert or almost 1.4 millisievert

3:30 pm -- 496 microsievert or .5 millisievert...

[jfchandler]

NHK:

US to send 8 more nuclear experts

The United States has decided to send 8 more nuclear experts to join the 2 who are already in Japan.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission says it has responded to a request from the Japanese government for help in dealing with the crisis at the nuclear power plant in quake-hit Fukushima prefecture.

Some of the experts may arrive in Japan as early as Wednesday.

They will likely advise Japanese authorities on how to halt the nuclear reactors safely, as well as on the effects that leaked radiation will have on humans and on the environment.

The experts will also work with US Ambassador to Japan John Roos to offer advice to the Japanese government on how to deal with the situation, if requested to do so.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 16:05 +0900 (JST)

Edited March 15, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

NHK:

US Congress plans hearing on nuclear policy

The US Congress has decided to summon the nation's top nuclear regulator for a hearing to review US nuclear policy, in the wake of Japan's atomic power plant disaster.

The House of Representatives will summon the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Gregory Jaczko, to a public hearing on Wednesday.

Chairman Fred Upton of the House energy panel said in a statement that the panel hopes to assess what's happening in Japan and the safety of US nuclear plants.

A leading Democrat on the panel, Edward Markey, said in his statement that US authorities should at least check the safety of 23 reactors that share similar designs with those at the stricken Japanese plant.

Markey also called for freezing all plans to build nuclear power plants in areas prone to earthquakes.

Construction of nuclear plants in the United States was suspended following the 1979 disaster at Three Mile Island.

But the administration of President Barack Obama decided last year to effectively lift the freeze. This policy could now be affected, depending on developments in Japan.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 11:37 +0900 (JST)

Edited March 15, 2011 by jfchandler

[brahmburgers]

There's one in every crowd....

Ishihara apologizes over 'divine punishment' remark TOKYO, March 15, Kyodo

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara apologized Tuesday for his remark that the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck eastern and northeastern Japan represented ''divine punishment'' of the Japanese people who have been tainted with egoism. ''I will take back (the remark) and offer a deep apology,'' Ishihara told a news conference, adding he should have thought about the feelings of victims.

Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai showed displeasure with Ishihara, who will seek his fourth term in the upcoming election, telling reporters that he hopes the Tokyo governor will pay consideration to disaster victims.

On Monday, Ishihara told reporters, ''Japanese politics is tainted with egoism and populism. We need to use tsunami to wipe out egoism, which has rusted onto the mentality of Japanese over a long period of time.''

''I think (the disaster) is tembatsu (divine punishment), although I feel sorry for disaster victims,'' he said.

That was a very stupid thing for Tokyo's governor to say. Psychological injuries involved with this tragedy are as important as any other injuries: to limb, to finances, etc. Such injuries will play out for years and decades. Already, tens of thousands of Japanese are traumatized. The governor should either shut up or else say and do things that might be helpful.

on the wind: Hearing reports of wind blowing west or south (two earlier posts) is alarming, given the radiation breaches we've been hearing about. Seeing the photo of the floating garbage at sea is also sobering. For all we see floating, there's probably ten times as much submerged. Sad times for wildlife in that region, not to mention the many pets that were killed.

I predict this tragedy will play a historical role, similar to the Concorde jet catching fire and crashing in Paris. This is the 'swan song' for building new N power plants - for most countries, at least.

Edited March 15, 2011 by brahmburgers

[bkkjames]

NHK: Fukushima Daiichi reactor complex: The temperatures of Unit 5 and 6 are also rising.

[jfchandler]

NHK:

All residents within 20 km of plant evacuated

Japan's National Police Agency says all residents within 20 kilometers of the quake-damaged Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant have been evacuated.

Police and Self-Defense Forces personnel guided the residents to safety following reports of radiation leaks from the plant's reactors.

They worked overnight to relocate 450 hospital patients and nursing home residents by bus, and the last 96 hospital patients were flown to safety by helicopter on Tuesday morning.

Police cars are patrolling areas between 20 and 30 kilometers of the plant and urging residents to stay indoors with their windows shut.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 16:05 +0900 (JST)

Edited March 15, 2011 by jfchandler