EU energy chief says Japan reactor "out of control"

[Pale Blue Dot]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Europe's energy chief warned on Wednesday of a further catastrophe at Japan's nuclear site in the coming hours but his spokeswoman said he had no specific or privileged information on the situation.

"In the coming hours there could be further catastrophic events, which could pose a threat to the lives of people on the island," Guenther Oettinger told the European Parliament.

"There is as yet no panic, but Tokyo with 35 million people, is the largest metropolis in the world," he said.

When asked, his spokeswoman said his prediction of a catastrophe in the hours ahead was not based on any specific privileged information.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/eu-nuclear-idUSBRU01137720110316

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/eu-nuclear-idUSBRU01137720110316

[dipsydoodle]

1. My cat said the same

I don't think she had any specific knowledge either. :sarcasm:

[subterranean]

2. He should have just said it's FUBAR.

[DemReadingDU]

3. uh oh

:scared:

[buddysmellgood]

4. I'd like to see some sort of plan. We'll do this, if this fails, we'll do this, if that fails, we'll

need a massive evacuation plan. Anyone seen such a thing?

[Frisbee]

6. With 42 million people in Tokyo alone...

I doubt evacuation is or was an option. If they're anything like the U.S., I'm sure a privileged few will find their way on to a plane out.

[caseymoz]

8. From what I see, there should be enough distance.

If everyone wears a mask. They might might some radiation sickness, and some deaths if they stay.

But that's not considering the sprawl.

[lovuian]

14. Get some ships in there and evacuate the young

women and children

Save as many as you can

[slackmaster]

5. At this stage I feel it's inaccurate to refer to the thing as a "reactor"

It's a festering pile of highly toxic, highly radioactive material undergoing uncontrolled fission.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Extremely large dirty bomb might be more accurate.

[caseymoz]

9. Four-- extremely large dirty bombs. nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

10. Actually 6 --

if you throw in reactors 5 & 6. :(

[AtheistCrusader]

11. Did something happen to those two last night?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

12. I've seen various reports -

that 5 & 6 were having problems with potential boiling and keeping water on the rods.

[caseymoz]

13. They're not bombs yet, and might not become ones.

They've been shut down since Friday, and they are pretty cool now. If they can get through Thursday without boiling over, they're out of the woods. As long as they can keep the cooling systems powered and keep them cooled through tomorrow, then the containment buildings should shield them from explosion damage.

I know it's like waiting for the other bomb to drop, but this disaster still is not as bad as it could probably get.