Prof. Emeritus Kenji Sumita (Osaka Univ.): Responses from TEPCO, NISA came too late

[jpak]

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201103160136.html

As a scientist long involved in research and development of nuclear energy, I feel deep regrets for the trouble given to the public by accidents at reactors at the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

The three towering principles for a nuclear power plant operator to deal with a powerful earthquake are "stop, cool and contain."

The operator of the plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co., managed to halt a nuclear reaction by inserting control rods at the initial stage.

But I wonder if the control rods were firmly inserted.

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