Japan Nuclear-Site Damage Worse Than Reported

[struggle4progress]

Source: New York Times

By MARTIN FACKLER
Published: July 19, 2007

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan, July 18 — The Japanese operator of a nuclear power plant stricken by an earthquake earlier this week said Wednesday that damage was worse than previously reported and that a leak of water was 50 percent more radioactive than initially announced .... The company also said that tremors had tipped over “several hundred” barrels of radioactive waste, not 100 as it reported Tuesday .... Tokyo Electric said it had found some 50 problems at the plant caused by the earthquake, including loose exhaust ducts and damaged pipes .... On Wednesday, the mayor of Kashiwazaki, Hiroshi Aida, chimed in, ordering the plant to stop operations until safety could be ensured ....

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/world/asia/19japan.html?hp

---

A history of accidents and cover-ups ...

[nickyt]

1. On my way home from work, listening to NPR, the reporter said, the leak was worse

than first reported, but it's still not too bad.
I thought, yeah. Sure. Right.

[struggle4progress]

4. No damage, no leaks! Well, maybe we leaked a quart or so. Don't worry, be

happy! Well, there are some cracks here and there. And golly gosh, would you look at that: maybe we leaked a few hundred gallons. But it's hardly radioactive. Oh, and a few drums tipped over. But, la de da! the plant was designed to withstand a quake this big! Well, maybe not quite this big. But it was certainly designed to withstand a quake half this size, or we wouldn't have built it directly over the fault. Did I forget to mention the radioactive gas leak? Just an oversight. And there aren't more than 50 serious problems with the plant. It'll be up and running in no time! I think I already mentioned that a hundred drums of waste tipped over. Silly slip of the tongue! I meant to say several hundred. Oh, and the leak liquid was just a wee tad more radioactive than we said. Oh well, nothing to see here ...

[soothsayer]

2. now i'm thinking godzilla AND his son are coming to kick ass

[jwirr]

3. How many "not bad" leakes make a dangerous leak?

[Big Pappa]

5. Something about his name makes me laugh.

MARTIN FACKLER

[Haole Girl]

6. In the words of Gomer Pile..

Surprise, surprise, surprise...

:sarcasm:

[Neshanic]

7. Our Friend The Atom vs Mothra at Kashiwazaki Arena...Sunday Sunday Sunday!