Earthquake Report — JAIF (No. 34)

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http://www.jaif.or.jp/english/news_images/pdf/ENGNEWS01_1301313213P.pdf

Earthquake Report — JAIF

No. 34

Status of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station as of 20:00, March 28, 2011

Here is information regarding the status of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station from the news reports aired by NHK Today.

• It is found that there is water accumulated in the tunnel where pipes go through at unit-2 around 15:30 on March 27. It has high radiation that is more than 1000 Sv/hr on the surface. Since the water discovered in the turbine building of unit-2 has same high level radiation, TEPCO is investigating relationship of these 2 cases. (18:40, March 28)


• Nuclear Safety Commission expressed the opinion that radioactive material from nuclear fuel once melded possibly have reached outside the containment vessel with water leaked from inside to outside the containment vessel trough unidentified pathway at unit-2. This opinion is based on the fact that water accumulated in the turbine building contain high amount of radioactive material, which is 100,000 times as much as radioactive material contained in water in the reactor at normal operation. Also Nuclear Safety Commission mentioned that operation to inject water to the reactor of unit-2 can be continued even in this situation. (13:25, March 28)


• The chief cabinet secretary strongly required not to enter the area to be evacuated in light of the fact that there are some cases in which evacuating persons temporally came back home. (13:25, March 28)


• High amount of radioactive material was detected in sea on the northern side of nuclear power station. The seawater contains radioactive iodine-131 in excess of the legal standard by 1150 times. High amount of radioactive iodine was detected also in sea on the southern side of nuclear power station few days ago. Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency told that radioactive material possibly have moved with the sea current. (13:25, March 28)


• Ministry of Defense released movies of the power station taken around 10:00 on March 27 from the helicopter of the self defense force. This movie captured these following scenes.
  • The roof of the reactor building collapsed after hydrogen explosion at unit-1.
  
  
  • Some holes are observed on the roof and steam like white smoke is rising from these holes at unit-2.
  
  
  • There is only steal beam upper part of the reactor building and steam is rising at unit-3.
  
  
  • The wall of the reactor building was blown off and some structure and equipment can be observed at unit-4. Steam is rising from some spots at unit-4.
  
  Dr. Sekimura of Tokyo university pointed out the possibility of damage to the fuel in the spent fuel pool of unit-3 since it would appear that the heavy crane have dropped into the fuel pool in this movie. (05:40, March 28)


• It becomes difficult to discharge water accumulated in the turbine building and it would possibly delay the work to restore cooling capability. High amount of radioactive material was detected in water accumulated in the turbine building at unit-1, 2 and 3. Water found in the turbine building of unit-2 contains radioactive material 100000 times as much as radioactive material contained in water in the reactor at normal operation and radioactivity of water surface is more than 1000mSv/hr. Also water found in the turbine building of unit-1 and unit-3 contains radioactive material, which is 1000 times as much. (04:20, March 28)