Japan asks IAEA for help in dealing with nuclear crisis

[wtmusic]

Source: BBC

1552: Japan has officially asked the UN nuclear watchdog the IAEA for experts to help in the current nuclear crisis, AFP reports, citing IAEA chief Yukiya Amano.

1535: Just to recap for you: We're getting reports that water levels in reactor 2 at Fukushima have fallen sharply, leaving the nuclear fuel rods fully exposed and raising fears of a meltdown. More as it comes in.


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698

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In the last half hour. This site is good for up-to-the minute information.

[abqmufc]

1. We should have seen this on Friday! n/t

[snagglepuss]

2. It is outrageous that the IEA has to wait before it gets involved.

I would like to know the rational.

[wtmusic]

3. Agree

I believe both the IAEA and the US have offered help that was (initially) refused. :crazy:

[bluedigger]

5. Well for one, they have no authority.

I believe that they are little more than a trade association responsible for setting standards and methods. They have no authority to impose themselves on others. What they do have is a membership of individuals with expertise that may be useful. Let's hope so!

The Japanese nuclear industry was probably reluctant to go to outside assistance and is probably succumbing to international pressure on this. All institutions prefer to handle their problems in-house, whenever possible. I think that there are a lot of parallels to be seen in this developing situation and the Gulf spill, including this institutional resistance to "outsiders".

[somone]

4. Sounds like TEPCO doesn't have enough personnel to handle the multiple crises

There was only one reactor in immediate jeopardy, and now there are several.