Fukushima nuclear plant leaks radioactive water
- 9 years ago
Originally published on February 21, 2014
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The operator of Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant said on Thursday (February 20) that a large amount of radioactive wastewater had leaked from a large storage tank, the worst incident since last August.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has been transferring radioactive water from unstable reactors into storage tanks since an earthquake and tsunami badly damaged the plant in March 2011.
The leak, which took place on Wednesday, was only discovered several hours later. Roughly 100 tonnes of highly contaminated water has been leaked. Last year's leak, which was deemed a "serious incident" and sparked international alarm, saw 300 tonnes of contaminated water leaked.
Tepco said that a water valve had been left open by accident, causing one of the storage tanks to overflow. Toxic water spilled over the tank's barrier and was absorbed into the ground.
"Even if the two (valves) were open, as long as the first valve is closed, water should not flow out, but it did. That means it is possible that there is a problem with the first valve and we need to check it," said Masayuki Ono, a spokesman for the utility company.
The toxic water is unlikely to have leaked into the Pacific Ocean, according to Tepco.
"Water is unlikely to have reached the ocean as there is no drainage in that tank area," said Ono.
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The operator of Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant said on Thursday (February 20) that a large amount of radioactive wastewater had leaked from a large storage tank, the worst incident since last August.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has been transferring radioactive water from unstable reactors into storage tanks since an earthquake and tsunami badly damaged the plant in March 2011.
The leak, which took place on Wednesday, was only discovered several hours later. Roughly 100 tonnes of highly contaminated water has been leaked. Last year's leak, which was deemed a "serious incident" and sparked international alarm, saw 300 tonnes of contaminated water leaked.
Tepco said that a water valve had been left open by accident, causing one of the storage tanks to overflow. Toxic water spilled over the tank's barrier and was absorbed into the ground.
"Even if the two (valves) were open, as long as the first valve is closed, water should not flow out, but it did. That means it is possible that there is a problem with the first valve and we need to check it," said Masayuki Ono, a spokesman for the utility company.
The toxic water is unlikely to have leaked into the Pacific Ocean, according to Tepco.
"Water is unlikely to have reached the ocean as there is no drainage in that tank area," said Ono.
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Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more!
Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TomoNewsUS
Check out our official website: http://us.tomonews.net/
Stay connected with us here:
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