Fukushima “much worse than we’ve been led to believe, much worse” says nuclear expert — Contaminated water is leaking out all over site

Radioactive Leaks in Japan Prompt Call for Overseas Help

By Yuji Okada, Jacob Adelman & Peter Langan - Aug 21, 2013 10:54 PM ET

 

The crippled nuclear plant at Fukushima is losing its two-year battle to contain radioactive water leaks and its owner emphasized for the first time it needs overseas expertise to help contain the disaster.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501) is grappling with the worst spill of contaminated water since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused a meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant. The call for help from Zengo Aizawa, a vice president at the utility, follows a leak of 300 metric tons of irradiated water. Japan’s nuclear regulator labeled the incident “serious” and questioned Tepco’s ability to deal with the crisis. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made similar comments earlier this month.

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Tepco Shares Plunge on Report of ‘Serious’ Radiated Water Leak

Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images

Local government officials and nuclear experts inspect a facility to prevent seeping of contamination water into the sea at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s (TEPCO) Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Okuma, Fukushima prefecture on Aug. 6, 2013.

Local government officials and nuclear experts inspect a facility to prevent seeping of contamination water into the sea at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s (TEPCO) Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Okuma, Fukushima prefecture on Aug. 6, 2013. Source: Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images

“We will revamp contaminated-water management to tackle the issue at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant and seek expertise from within and outside of the country,” Aizawa said at a press conference last night in Tokyo. “There is much experience in decommissioning reactors outside of Japan. We need that knowledge and support.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said they are prepared to help.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-21/tepco-shares-plunge-on-report-of-serious-radiated-water-leak.html

UPI: “Fukushima plant is approaching a worst case scenario” — Top Japan Nuclear Official: “This is what we have been fearing”

Published: August 22nd, 2013 at 12:58 pm ET
By ENENews

UPI: “Fukushima plant is approaching a worst case scenario” — Top Japan Nuclear Official: “This is what we have been fearing” Published: August 22nd, 2013 at 12:58 pm ET By ENENews Title: Regulators say situation at crippled Fukushima plant alarming Source: UPI Date: Aug. 22, 2013 at 7:45 AM ‘Worst-case scenario’ at Fukushima The Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority said the cascading series of radioactive water leaks from the Fukushima plant is approaching a worst case scenario. [Tepco] warned there may be hundreds more tanks like [the one leaking] on the site of the 2011 meltdown. “We cannot waste even a minute,” [Chairman of the Japan Nuclear Regulation Authority Shunichi Tanaka] said. “This is what we have been fearing.” [...] Atsunao Marui, director of research at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, said the situation is likely to get worse. “It’s important to think of the worst-case scenario,” he said  TODAY'S MOST VIEWED BBC: Fukushima “much worse than we’ve been led to believe, much worse” says nuclear expert — Contaminated water is leaking out all over site (2,377) UPI: “Fukushima plant is approaching a worst case scenario” — Top Japan Nuclear Official: “This is what we have been fearing” (2,120) CNN: Japan’s nuclear regulator called Fukushima “a house of horrors”… They are not prone to hyperbole, an unbelievable thing to say — “Very, very serious… incredibly frightening” (VIDEO) (1,732) New York Times: “Potential for huge spill” of highly radioactive liquid from many Fukushima tanks all at once, says nuclear design expert — Top Officials: Leaks from more tanks are “the biggest concern… We are extremely concerned” (1,713) NYT: Fears of environmental calamity from Fukushima disaster — Japan Nuclear Expert: It’s getting worse… People all over world need to be informed… first case in history where so much contaminated water flowing in ocean (1,586)  http://enenews.com/upi-fukushima-plant-is-approaching-a-worst-case-scenario-top-japan-nuclear-official-this-is-what-we-have-been-fearing