Japan earthquake
Live updates of developments after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, selected by Reuters.com editors and readers. To see updates from Reuters only, click "Options" and turn off comments.
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@Jim NHK web site reported they stopped venting because too much radiation was released: www3.nhk.or.jp -
www3.nhk.or.jp says The operation at Fukushima No.1 plant to lower pressure of the containment vessel has been suspended due to high radiation levels at the site.
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wouldnt it be better to use some kind of precision jet directional perforating explosive to put a few holes in that pressure vessel before it blows up entirely? (trust me they can be very precise if used correctly) if the valve cannot be made to work - would that be a viable alternative?
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Venting air from reactor container suspended
The operation at Fukushima No.1 plant to lower pressure of the containment vessel has been suspended due to high radiation levels at the site.
Pressure of the reactor container is rising as its cooling system became dysfunctional due to a blackout and power generator breakdown. This has raised concern about possible damage to the container.
The power station's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, began to vent air from the reactor container at 9AM on Saturday.
Under the plan, 2 valves close to the container would be opened manually, but radiation level on the second valve was found higher than expected.
The operation has been suspended because of the possibility that workers could be exposed to radiation. The utility is reportedly studying how to open the valve by replacing workers at a short interval, or using electric remote control. -
(Reuters) - Japanese nuclear authorities said that there was a high possibility that nuclear fuel rods at a reactor at Tokyo Electric Power's Daiichi plant may be melting or have melted, Jiji news agency reported.
Experts have said that if the fuel rods have been damaged, it means that it could develop into a breach of the nuclear reactor vessel and the question then becomes one of how strong the containment structure around the vessel is and whether it has been undermined by the earthquake. -
Keep in mind that the experts working on the plants know this is a post-Chernobyl world, and that they want to protect citizens above everything else. If they weren't optimistic about fixing the plant, they'd be getting ready to seal it off or further evacuating people.
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What is not being reported widely is the efforts by TEPCO on the Fukushima 1 Unit 1 reactor are being done on a long term cost saving measure. Introducing a large quantity of boric acid into the core coolant will effectively kill the reactor, substantially reducing residual core heat, but doing so contaminates the reactor with neutron poisons, such that restarting the reactor later will take a long time and may be financially infeasible due to the cost of neutron poison removal.
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I think we concentrate and discuss the nuclear problems to the exclusion of the larger problems over there because we humans have some sense of control over the nuclear facilities. i.e. If they had done this... If they do that... As if we focus hard enough we can control the problem or at least prevent a recurrence. That reaction is normal in the face of such tragic, catastrophic, and completely uncontrollable events such as earthquakes and tsunamis. It's like the guy repairing the front steps while his house is under foreclosure. The nuclear issue has the added bonus of fascinating nearly everybody due to the horrific possibilities inherent in such leashed power coming unleashed. Most of us feel immune to tsunamis due to location. We all feel vulnerable to the horrors of radiation.contamination.
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Fresh video - Rescues start in Japan in.reuters.com
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Even after struck with such a massive disaster, The Japanese Administration's timely effort prevented the death toll to rise dramatically. We know what happened in Gujarat when 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck. At least this time let our leaders and Administration study and practice a good system to rescue people when such kind of calamity happens.
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The Japanese are acting properly combating this casualty. Venting off steam to preserve fuel cladding integrity ultimately limits the total amount of radioactivity release potential. Minimizing fuel cladding melting keeps the radioactive fuel and fission products largely isolated to the fuel and primary system.
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Toyota, other carmakers close quake-hit plants; reopen undecided in.reuters.com
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