Japan: Radioactive water could overflow outside Fukushima nuclear plant this month

[News_Editor]

Japan: Radioactive water could overflow outside Fukushima nuclear plant this month

2011-06-04 07:10:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- The Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco) on Friday announced that heavy rain fall could cause accumulated radioactive water at the plant to overflow and possibly pollute ocean water and soil in less than two weeks.

As Tepco continues pumping water into its overheating reactors at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to help cool down its high temperatures, the amount of contaminated water has reached over 100,000 tons as of Tuesday, threatening to overflow if rain falls by June 15, an official told Kyodo news agency.

Japan was struck with a devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a tsunami on March 11, severely damaging the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant's cooling systems in its three reactors.

As a result, radioactive elements leaked into the sea and were later found in water, air and food products in some parts of Japan.

However, the threat of radioactive waters overflowing out into the Japanese oceans and soil has increased concerns.

In addition, experts are saying that even without rainfall, radioactive waters could begin overflowing as of June 20, at the earliest. According to the official, the combined amount of radiation in the tainted water is estimated to be 720,000 terabecquerels.

Japan allocated a 4 trillion yen ($48.89 billion) emergency budget to finance the early phase of reconstruction efforts following the disaster, which has resulted in the death of at least 14,294 people.

In addition, the evacuation zone was expanded beyond the initial 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) radius surrounding the damaged plant.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-04

[maidu]

Why is this article posted on its own, and not included in the Fukushima thread?

....yet there are still nuclear boosters who can declare, with a straight face, that nuclear is cheaper than viable alternatives like concentrated solar.

How many municipal scale solar plants could be built for the costs earmarked to try to clean up the multiple messes? Nuclear fission is a ridiculous way to generate electricity.

And yet nuclear boosters will pipe up to add; 'it's cleaner and safer than other technologies, and has zero greenhouse gas emissions.' Jeezo Preezo, don't get me started responding to that............

Edited June 4, 2011 by maidu

[Tywais]

Why is this article posted on its own, and not included in the Fukushima thread?

It's an automated news feed.