Meltdown Likely Under Way At Japan Nuclear Reactor

[jfchandler]

Nuke crisis poses 'substantial risk,' no wider evacuation eyed: Obama

WASHINGTON, March 17, Kyodo News

President Barack Obama said Thursday the damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant posed ''a substantial risk'' to people nearby, while stressing the U.S. government had no immediate plan to expand the scope of its evacuation order beyond an 80-kilometer radius of the troubled plant in northeastern Japan.

Speaking at the White House, Obama said that a U.S. decision to ask American citizens living within the 80-km radius of the quake-hit nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture to evacuate as a precautionary measure was ''based upon a careful scientific evaluation.''

While urging U.S. citizens in Japan to continue to monitor the situation, Obama assured the safety of the United States, saying, ''We do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the United States, whether it's the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, or U.S. territories in the Pacific.''

MORE: http://english.kyodo...1/03/79102.html

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[Jdietz]

Good morning again, now almost one week after the Quake, and still no 'earth-shattering *kaboom*'

One observation about sending in robots / drones / remote toy helicopters etc.:

Unless these things are specially radiation shielded, their processors and other electronics will be interfered with by the high radiation levels, and they will end up inert blocking the path even more, or worse, start to behave erratically, possibly destroying even more. See how satellites are hardened to keep functioning, and that is at a way lower radiation level than inside a plant.

[Jdietz]

nm

Edited March 18, 2011 by Jdietz

[jfchandler]

That's correct, Tywais... The quoted passage below is the text of the NHK report... And they do mean cumulative exposure, not hourly, in this context.

As much as I might want, I'm trying not to edit quoted news report content too much...

The change follows the health and labor ministry's decision on Wednesday to raise the exposure limit for nuclear contract workers to 250 millisieverts.

Just to clarify this - that is 250 mSv/Year which is 28 uSv/hour and not 250mSv/hour. Need the full units to prevent confusion.

[jfchandler]

NHK reporting U.S. authorities have begun screening Japanese arriving at U.S. airports for radiation exposure.

[Tywais]

That's correct, Tywais... The quoted passage below is the text of the NHK report... And they do mean cumulative exposure, not hourly, in this context.

As much as I might want, I'm trying not to edit quoted news report content too much...

Not pointing fingers at you, you are doing an outstanding job. Just clarification to members.

[jfchandler]

Germany to move embassy functions from Tokyo to Osaka over nuke crisis

BERLIN, March 17, Kyodo

Germany will temporarily move the functions of its embassy in Tokyo to Osaka amid the ongoing crisis at a nuclear power plant crippled by the catastrophic March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

The ministry has urged German living in the areas affected by the quake and tsunami as well as in the Tokyo metropolitan area to leave the country or evacuate to Osaka.

The massive quake and ensuing tsunami have crippled the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, about 200 kilometers northeast of Tokyo, causing radiation leaks and raising concerns that the crisis could develop into a disaster that would see the plant emit a large amount of radioactive substances into the atmosphere.

http://english.kyodo...1/03/79069.html

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[brahmburgers]

They've got to put a pretty big breaker on those AC wires coming in. How would you like to be the one to pull the switch? It looks as though reactors #3 and #4 are the most problematic at this time.

This whole messy scenario will, among other things, but a roadblock up against Thailand going nuclear. Hip hip hooray!

[jfchandler]

Edano news conference via NHK

The water spraying activity for Reactor No. 3 will continue this afternoon.

This morning, work on restoring electrical feed will continue.

If possible, will try spraying on Reactor No. 1 as well. Discussion on this underway.

Reporter asks question about Japanese newspaper report that U.S. government originally offered technical assistance, and Japanese govt. rejected it.

Edano: "At least from the Cabinet, we have never said we don't need such support."

Edano explains why they aren't immediately planning to spray water on Reactor No. 4, talks about needing enough room for the work, at the time they're already spraying Reactor No. 3.

Edano talks about peak plant radiation readings, mentions 100 microsievert per hour rate.

[jfchandler]

Britain to charter flights out of Tokyo

LONDON, March 17, Kyodo

The British government announced Thursday that it will put on charter flights for its nationals wanting to leave Tokyo amid growing concerns over radiation levels from the quake-stricken nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

The government will charter flights from Tokyo to Hong Kong at a cost of 600 pounds ($966) per person for those wanting to leave the Japanese capital, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The plan follows advice issued by Britain on Wednesday for its nationals to ''consider leaving'' Tokyo, and north of Tokyo, due to the ''evolving'' situation at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Foreign Office advice is that nationals should first seek flights via commercial airlines, but if they are unable to do so they should call the Foreign Office in London on 0044 20 7008 6900.

Staff will take down details and contact callers after they are able to confirm places. Officials from the Foreign Office will be available in Hong Kong for nationals seeking onward travel, the statement said.

For British nationals and their immediate families who were directly affected by the March 11 tsunami, there will be no charge for the flights to Hong Kong.

The Foreign Office has already laid on a bus for its nationals wishing to leave Sendai and head to Tokyo.

London continues to urge against all non-essential travel to Tokyo and the northeast of Japan.

http://english.kyodo...1/03/79055.html

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

NHK reports the contingent from Tokyo Fire Department has arrived to a location near the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

And it sounds like they're finally going to be bringing up the kind of firefighting equipment I mentioned in my post last night...including, according to NHK:

--a truck equipped with a water tower that can spray from a point 22 meters high.

-- a water truck designed for fighting jet aircraft fires, and

--a pumper truck capable of drawing and delivering sea water directly from the nearby ocean.

We're now one week after the original earthquake and tsunamis.

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

Mizuho Bank to Suspend ATMs on 3-Day Weekend

Tokyo, March 18 (Jiji Press)--Mizuho Bank said Friday it will suspend all its automated teller machines in Japan on a three-day weekend due to a continued system glitch.

The unit of Mizuho Financial Group Inc. has yet to be able to fix the glitch, which caused all its ATMs to stop working Thursday morning and again later in the day.

Services including cash withdrawals and deposits are unavailable at its ATMs. The bank's cash cards cannot be used at ATMs at partner banks or convenience shops either.

The trouble affects 620,000 salary remittances scheduled for Friday. Corporate clients cannot make remittances for settlements even at its outlets or over the Internet.

The bank, which suffered a system failure for the fourth day, cannot handle about 500,000 transactions left unprocessed since the glitch first hit the bank.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[webfact]

REUTERSFLASH: W.H.O. says radiation spread in Japan is localized, not harmful to human health - China W.H.O. rep

[jfchandler]

Site Offering Japan Disaster Info in 9 Languages

Tokyo, March 17 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese nonprofit organization has launched a Web site that offers disaster information related to Friday's 9.0-magnitude earthquake in nine languages.

The Multilingual Support Center for the Tohoku Earthquake Out at Pacific Ocean, set up by the NPO, based in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, provides support in English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai.

The site is also available in Japanese and "easy Japanese" with hiragana characters.

The center uses some 15 volunteers to post all sorts of information, from everyday tips to ways to respond in a nuclear disaster, on the site while collecting information about foreign residents in quake-stricken areas.

The center has also launched hotlines in four languages--English, Chinese, Portuguese and Spanish--that are open between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Japan time. It plans to expand the number of languages available.

English: http://eqinfojp.net/...ry_name=english

Thai: http://eqinfojp.net/...egory_name=thai

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[Shurup]

Finnally was able to catch up with reading.

Images still don't show up, tried with both IE and FF.

[jfchandler]

Excerpt from Reuters:

Even if the engineers manage to connect the power, it is not clear the pumps will work as they may have been damaged in the earthquake or subsequent explosions and there are real fears of the electricity shorting and causing another explosion.

"Preparatory work has so far not progressed as fast as we had hoped," an official of plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) told a news briefing, adding that engineers had to be constantly checked for radiation levels.

Washington and other foreign capitals have expressed growing alarm about radiation leaking from the plant, severely damaged by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami a week ago that triggered a series of destructive explosions and compromised the nuclear reactors and spent fuel storage tanks.

Worst case scenarios would involve millions of people in Japan threatened by exposure to radioactive material, but prevailing winds are likely to carry any contaminated smoke or steam away from the densely populated Tokyo area to dissipate over the Pacific ocean.

http://www.reuters.c...E72A0SS20110318

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

Just fyi to everyone, TV confirms it's a system problem, and not anything about my particular photo postings...

They're working to remedy, but no time estimate given.

I'll keep posting the photos, since I presume they will be viewable by everyone at some point...

But be aware that it's also not any problem with your computers either..

Meanwhile, let me mull if there isn't a work around available by using an online place to host the Fukushima photos outside TV...until the problem is resolved.

Finnally was able to catch up with reading.

Images still don't show up, tried with both IE and FF.

[brahmburgers]

Mizuho Bank to Suspend ATMs on 3-Day Weekend

Tokyo, March 18 (Jiji Press)--Mizuho Bank said Friday it will suspend all its automated teller machines in Japan on a three-day weekend due to a continued system glitch.

It wouldn't be to to avert a run on the banks, would it?

[bkkjames]

new video on you tube show the damage at the reactor site - not the best quality but worth watching.

[jfchandler]

Japan nuclear safety agency says aware of "Chernobyl solution"

(Reuters) - Japan's nuclear safety agency said on Friday that it was aware of the ultimate "Chernobyl solution" to contain the nuclear disaster at its quake-hit nuclear plant by covering it in sand and encasing it in concrete, but added that it was currently focusing on efforts to restore power and cool down the reactors.

http://www.reuters.c...E72H0I620110318

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

Analysis: Even nuclear defenders begin to have their doubts

(Reuters) - Even the most ardent defenders of nuclear power are starting to admit the situation in Japan looks bad.

The disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi complex is now generally held to be significantly bigger than the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island in 1979. Some fear it could yet become as grave as the explosion that tore apart the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine in 1986 and spewed a radioactive cloud over Europe.

While the believers in the promise of nuclear energy haven't yet become non-believers they are more questioning than they were and in an increasing number of cases are willing to acknowledge that the disaster reflects poorly on the industry.

On March 14, the Wall Street Journal carried an opinion piece from author William Tucker condemning those who were expressing concern about nuclear safety when there was the full devastation from the earthquake and tsunami to focus on.

MORE: http://www.reuters.c...E72G8WU20110317

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

Recap of Japan Travel Advisories by Country via Reuters:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/17/us-japan-quake-travel-idUSTRE72G38K20110317

[TheWalkingMan]

Mizuho Bank to Suspend ATMs on 3-Day Weekend

Tokyo, March 18 (Jiji Press)--Mizuho Bank said Friday it will suspend all its automated teller machines in Japan on a three-day weekend due to a continued system glitch.

Figures... That's my bank.

FYI - The holiday is Spring Equinox

[bkkjames]

T @BreakingNews: Chicago mayor says passengers on flight from Tokyo had set off radiation detectors at O'Hare - Chicago Trib Tokyo flight triggers O'Hare radiation detectors - Chicago ...‎ -

http://www.chicagobr...0,4216493.story

edit to add, not that I am overly worried by this development but wondering about flights landing here from Japan? Any monitoring being done?

Edited March 18, 2011 by bkkjames

[jfchandler]

NHK running interviews with several workers who were in the Fukushima nuclear plant at the time of the earthquake, describing "violent" shaking and the lights going out.

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[bkkjames]

NHK running interviews with several workers who were in the Fukushima nuclear plant at the time of the earthquake, describing "violent" shaking and the lights going out.

this one is for you John:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-radiation-monitoring-from-west-la

[jfchandler]

IAEA Briefing on Fukushima Nuclear Emergency (Thursday, 17 March 2011, 14:00 UTC)

At the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Graham Andrew, Special Adviser to the IAEA Director General on Scientific and Technical Affairs, briefed both Member States and the media on the current status of nuclear safety in Japan.

Current Situation

The situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants remains very serious, but there has been no significant worsening since yesterday.

The current situation at Units 1, 2 and 3, whose cores have suffered damage, appears to be relatively stable. Sea water is being injected into all three units using fire extinguishing hoses. Containment pressures are fluctuating.

Military helicopters carried out four water drops over Unit 3.

Unit 4 remains a major safety concern. No information is available on the level of water in the spent fuel pool. No water temperature indication from the Unit 4 spent fuel pool has been received since 14 March, when the temperature was 84 °C. No roof is in place.

The water levels in the reactor pressure vessels of Units 5 and 6 have been declining.

Radiation Monitoring

We are now receiving dose rate information from 47 Japanese cities regularly. This is a positive development. In Tokyo, there has been no significant change in radiation levels since yesterday. They remain well below levels which are dangerous to human health.

As far as on-site radiation levels at the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear power plants are concerned, we have received no new information since the last report.

In some locations at around 30 km from the Fukushima plant, the dose rates rose significantly in the last 24 hours (in one location from 80 to 170 microsievert per hour and in another from 26 to 95 microsievert per hour). But this was not the case at all locations at this distance from the plants.

Dose rates to the north-west of the nuclear power plants, were observed in the range 3 to 170 microsievert per hour, with the higher levels observed around 30 km from the plant.

Dose rates in other directions are in the 1 to 5 microsievert per hour range.

http://www.iaea.org/...miupdate01.html

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[bkkjames]

and in Japan itself:

http://www.bousai.ne.jp/eng/index.html

-Realtime radiation data collected via the System for Prediction of Environment Emergency Dose Information(SPEEDI)

[jfchandler]

TEPCO's report of worker casualties associated with the Fukushima reactors, through 11 p.m. Thursday, March 17, Japan time

- 2 workers of cooperative firm were injured at the occurrence of the earthquake, and were transported to the hospital.

- 1 TEPCO employee who was not able to stand by his own holding left chest with his hand, was transported to the hospital by an ambulance.

- 1 subcontract worker at the key earthquake proof building was unconscious and transported to the hospital by an ambulance.

- The radiation exposure of 1 TEPCO employee, who was working inside the reactor building, exceeded 100mSv and he was transported to the hospital.

- 2 TEPCO employees felt bad during their operation in the central control rooms of Unit 1 and 2 while wearing full masks, and were transferred to Fukushima Daini Power Station for consultation with a medical advisor.

- 4 workers were injured and transported to the hospital after explosive sound and white smoke were confirmed around the Unit 1.

- 11 workers were injured and transported to Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power

Station etc. after explosive sound and white smoke were confirmed around the Unit 3.One of the workers was transported to the FUKUSHIMA Medical University Hospital at 10:56AM

- Presence of 2 TEPCO employees at the site is not confirmed.

http://www.tepco.co....11031719-e.html

Edited March 18, 2011 by jfchandler

[SurfRider]

.

Private jets in hot demand as Japan exodus grows

(Reuters) - Thousands of people desperate to escape Japan's deepening nuclear crisis have inundated private jet companies with requests for evacuation flights, sending prices surging as much as a quarter.

Some multinational companies are pulling international staff out of Tokyo and surrounding areas after low-level radiation reached the metropolis on Tuesday.

Workers are fleeing for Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and as far afield as Australia and the United States as power outages and shortages of basic supplies compound the misery after Friday's 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

"I got a request yesterday to fly 14 people from Tokyo to Hong Kong, 5 hour 5 minutes trip. They did not care about price. The charge inflated by 26 percent to more than $160,000," said Jackie Wu, COO of Hong Kong Jet, a newly established private jet subsidiary of China's HNA Group.

http://uk.reuters.co...E72F04020110316