Japan Nuclear Agency: Fukushima Daiichi No. 3 Reactor Fuel Rods Exposed (WSJ update) [View All]

[jpak]

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110313-702090.html

TOKYO (Dow Jones)--Readings from pressure and radiation monitors are conflicting with data showing that nuclear fuel rods are exposed at the Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Power Plant's No. 1 and No. 3 reactors, as the there may be problems with the water-level gauges, an official at the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said Sunday.

The official also said that Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501.TO), the operator of the plant, has been able to release pressure in reactor No. 3 but that he's concerned that its fuel rods may be damaged. There are no major problems with reactor No. 2, he said.

Another official said that he believes that sea water is continuing to be pumped into the core of reactor No. 1 and its surrounding reactor vessel. Despite seawater being pumped in, the water gauges show the water level falling from between a minus between 150 centimeters and minus 200cm from the top of the fuel rods in reactor No. 3 at 0400 GMT to between minus 180cm and minus 220cm at 1055 GMT and unchanged at minus 170cm for reactor No. 1, he said.

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