Reuters FLASH: Explosion heard at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi No.2 reactor: Jiji News Agency

[flamingdem]

11 minutes ago.

[proud patriot]

1. crap

[Journeyman]

2. ABC News is running the same banner on their site. . .

No info yet.

[flamingdem]

3. This is pretty terrifying nt

[roamer65]

4. Another hydrogen-oxygen explosion I bet.

The reactor was so hot that it split the water molecules and boom.

[flamingdem]

6. I am flashing back to living through 3 mile island

and listening to Pacifica give the story not told by the MSM.

It was awful not to know if there was radiation there or not!

The poor workers at that reactor.

[bananas]

32. Which Pacifica station?

kpfk, kpfa, or wbai?

[flamingdem]

49. wbai, they did a great job, I was living fairly close so my ear was attached

to the radio..

[bananas]

58. Ok, I tuned in to kpfk - David Freeman is on Background Briefing now

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._David_Freeman

[nadinbrzezinski]

57. Yep... and this time it failed sideways

instead of UP...

[PCIntern]

5. It's like One-a-day Vitamins!

The fact that they're not all exploding at once is good news. You should be happy and rest assured that we're doing all we can to protect the citizenry. It's as safe as we can make it. That is all.

[flamingdem]

8. There was operator error at No.2, a valve to relieve pressure was shut by mistake.. nt

[Abq_Sarah]

7. Kyodo news reporting

Suppression pool may have been damaged at #2 reactor.

[Thunderstruck]

9. I'm pretty sure that's an...

OH SHIT!

I hope this all goes away soon.

[flamingdem]

11. MSNBC: guy says containment leaking but "not severely yet" but ...

another hydrogen exposure could change this..

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. I *think* they said that about an hour ago, before this new explosion

Japan's Edano: damage seen at Fukushima No.2 reactor
Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:06pm GMT

TOKYO, March 15 (Reuters) - Japan's top government spokesman said on Tuesday that some damage has been detected at the quake-hit Fukushima Daiichi No.2 nuclear reactor in northern Japan, but that no sharp increase in radiation levels has been seen.

The damage was found in the suppression pool, which is attached to the No.2 reactor's containment vessel at the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (9501.T: Quote), Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told a news conference.

Edano said the suppression pool is used to turn vapour into water, but did not elaborate further on the damage.

http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFTKG00709320110314

[flamingdem]

13. Sorry I think it was CNN right now after the latest blast nt

[roamer65]

10. This is definitely a level 6 incident....well beyond Three Mile Island.

TMI is now a distant 3rd to this disaster.

They're not at Chernobyl yet, but they're getting close.

[Abq_Sarah]

15. That's yet to be determined

We can all guess at what's going on but there's just not enough information on what's going on inside that building.

[roamer65]

17. To form hyrdogen gas from water, like at TMI...

you have to be producing TMI level temperatures or greater. TMI reactor temps melted 1/2 of the reactor core.

This is at least a partial meltdown on 3 reactors.

[suffragette]

14. NHK reporting operators evacuated

[flamingdem]

16. Oh crap this is not looking good at all nt

[suffragette]

19. No, it's not. And they are repeating wind direction over

and over, which I don't remember them doing before.

They just said operators not directly involved are the ones being evacuated, so that's a difference from the previous statement.

[Thunderstruck]

26. And that means the ones that are turning the valves are brave heroes who

will most definately not survive this catastrophe.

[suffragette]

35. Yes, it certainly sounds that way

[Abq_Sarah]

18. If there was another hydrogen explosion

It will cause a big spike in radiation released. If the levels don't drop down, that will signal a pretty significant problem.

[suffragette]

24. They are talking about the suppression pool

and saying it is totally different.

[roamer65]

20. This may mean a containment breach.

[Thunderstruck]

21. Oh no...not good. Not good at all. =(

[flamingdem]

22. 10,000 x increase in rad levels being reported by NHK

RT @Joi: NHK: explosion, suppression pool pressure drop, 10,000X increase (over normal) rad levels, partial evac of TEPCO staff - reactor 2

[Thunderstruck]

23. Oh damn.. =(

[roamer65]

27. Containment breach.

I am going to pray for the Japanese people tonite.

God be with them.

[k2qb3]

31. Yeah, this is bad...

If the suppression pool is damaged their options are extremely limited. Was going really well as nuclear disasters go up until now.

They may still be able to keep a full-on containment breach and meltdown from happening, but the people we're depending on now to do that probably won't be around to get the medals if they succeed. If it's true the supression pool is damaged that's a primary containment breach.

[rhett o rick]

42. Why no links here? nm

[suffragette]

63. I'm watching NHK and looking at Kyodo news

Both in English


http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/

http://english.kyodonews.jp/

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/77943.html

[Babel_17]

52. I googled for that twitter feed, thanks for the heads-up

http://twitter.com/Joi

I feel sorry for the 50 TEPCO staff who were left behind while the others evacuated - #TEPCOpressconf less than a minute ago via Seesmic Web
chikawatanabe @miyagawa I think JP media has gone insane to think it's their job to make others apologize. 5 minutes ago via Echofon in reply to miyagawa Retweeted by Joi and 9 others
teni Reporter to spokesman: "We don't want to know how you FEEL; tell us what's going on. How was today's explosion different from earlier ones?" 7 minutes ago via Seesmic twhirl Retweeted by Joi and 30 others
Another TEPCO press conference coming up soon... 13 minutes ago via Seesmic Web
mizuko NHK now giving detailed reports of wind flows and direction after explosion and damage of containment pool i… (cont) http://deck.ly/~xGkJW 21 minutes ago via TweetDeck Retweeted by Joi and 28 others
Bottom of second containment chamber so can leak and hard to fix RT @Lawnmowercutter: @Joi what happens with the suppression pool? 21 minutes ago via Seesmic Web
Let me qualify: NHK expert saying possibly worst JAPANESE nuclear failure ever - waiting for more info 24 minutes ago via Seesmic Web
NHK expert saying that possibly the worst nuclear failure in history - urging officials to release more information ASAP 28 minutes ago via Seesmic Web
NHK: explosion, suppression pool pressure drop, 10,000X increase (over normal) radition levels, partial evac of TEPCO staff - reactor 2 29 minutes ago via Seesmic Web

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

[grahamhgreen]

25. The people who are unreccing this are morally bankrupt. Lives are at stake.

[Thunderstruck]

28. They need to accept how serious this fucking is!

[flamingdem]

34. It's not going away, in spite of other pressing matters nt

[flamingdem]

29. Unreal - this incident could make large areas of Japan uninhabitable for decades

if not centuries.

And it might create severe environmental damage in other countries as well.

[grahamhgreen]

65. I already don't eat gulf coast fish... now the pacific too, i suppose

[defendandprotect]

69. What is it that they FEAR from threads reporting on these events? Don't get it!

[suffragette]

30. When reporters ask question, the officials "apologize to public"

instead of responding.

This sounds very bad to me.

[flamingdem]

36. Apologies are very important in Japan

I am guessing that many will end their lives if this turns into the disaster we hope we don't see.

[suffragette]

39. Agree. This is so different from previous. Reporters are asking specific

and pointed questions about safety - really pressing on this, and questions are showing increased frustration with not receiving specific responses.

Wow - one just said the answer doesn't make sense

[roamer65]

38. Japan is an honor-based culture.

If they are apologizing, it means there was a massive failure.

[suffragette]

64. That's the impression it gives

especially with reporters aggressively pressing for answers with specific info instead of repeated apologies.

[CJvR]

48. Wakasashi time. n/t

[flamingdem]

59. I had to wikipedia that one

... it's conceivable ..

now on CNN they're saying TEPCO has a history of lying... aarg

[suffragette]

33. "Damage to suppression pool" - NHK

[CJvR]

37. Great!!!

At least now there is nothing left to blow up!

[GodlessBiker]

40. Does this mean that all the operators for all of those reactors will have to leave so that the ...

other reactor cores might melt faster and harder with no operators tending to them?

[Thunderstruck]

41. They'll either leave or die doing whatever they can until their strength is gone. I

venture a guess it's the latter.

[suffragette]

43. NHK is reporting non-critical operators evacuated

[snagglepuss]

44. The Oil Drum: "This is something going on inside containment...."

Bang or explosion heard around the suppression pool at #2. This is an entirely different bag of chips than a hydrogen explosion in the refueling deck. This is something going on inside containment.

The suppression pool is the "torus" which is designed to quench any steam released from primary circuit or reactor vessel itself.

From my understanding this means that the wetwell has been breached and will have released pressure into the secondary containment surrounding the wet well "torus."

They also registered higher radiation in the wetwell (suppression pool) recently.

This could just be the wet well letting go due to old age and pressure and a coincidental increase in radiation.

Worst case, the pressure increased due to some failure of the reactor vessel itself and the increased radiation is due to some amount of ejected core melt or alternatively salt water if the core is somewhat intact.

But that's worst case, seems unlikely. I'd think if the reactor vessel had in fact ruptured that there would be more than just a bang.

[suffragette]

45. Fuel rods exposed 2.7 metres - NHK

[drm604]

46. Shit!

It's one fucking disaster after another. :cry:

[flamingdem]

47. Tepco news conference notes / updates

The explosion did not cause damage to container?

Not sure I got that right

Radiation level: 8217 - 3x higher
8:31am Japan time



----------- notes from news conference in Japan

the dry well pressure has not gone down.

water injection operation will continue

water level difficult to stablize

the pressure inside makes water pumping difficult
that's why they opened the valve

expolsive sound heard around suppression chamber
possible that some damage occurred
radiation went up suddenly
so they decided to evacuate all non-essential personel

the evacuation of the officers not engaged with the
water operation will be evacuated

[suffragette]

51. Breaking news banners at Kyodo news

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/77943.html

BREAKING NEWS: Water level rises to cover 1.2 m of No. 2 reactor's fuel rods: TEPCO (08:50)
NEWS ADVISORY: 1,300 people isolated in Kesennuma, Miyagi Pref. (08:43)
BREAKING NEWS: Lower pressure after blast suggests damage to suppression pool: agency (08:39)
BREAKING NEWS: Lower pressure after blast triggers damage to suppression pool: agency (08:35)
BREAKING NEWS: Radioactive materials feared to be leaking: safety agency (08:33)

[flamingdem]

53. "Something might have happened to container vessel" NHK News Conference

Being reported now.

Suppression Chamber may have been damaged causing possible leaks.

[suffragette]

56. Just heard that. And they are talking about difference between

different leaks.


Just said TEPCO's response has not been good, info unclear and TEPCo must issue info if it is necessary so people can evacuate to farther locations.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

61. Updated: Radiation at Fukushima plant briefly hits 8,217 micro sievert per hour: TEPCO (09:05)

# BREAKING NEWS: TEPCO detects radiation of 8,217 micro sievert per hour, 8 times annual limit (09:03)

[suffragette]

62. So it's rising again then?

Really bad news

[Lone_Star_Dem]

67. That's the official high number from what I can tell

11:41 AM

Details are starting to emerge about the radiation leak at the number 2 reactor in Fukushima.

The radiation level at the plant temporarily rose to 8,217 micro sievert per hour after the explosion was heard, more than eight times the 1,000 micro sievert level to which people are usually exposed in one year.

Tokyo Electric said many staff were being moved to a "safer area" but workers who were pumping water to cool the reactor would remain.

A company spokesman said: "The evacuation does not mean they are in a crisis."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/japan-quake-2011/#entry-6a00e0097e4e6888330147e33686b3970b

[suffragette]

68. NHK started reporting live again

And yes, that looks like the high number right after it happened.

It went down after that.

When I saw your post, I thought it had risen back up again.

It's so bad as it is, seeing it rise that much again would be even worse.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

70. I totally uderstand

Take note of how long it took me to reply. I really wanted to be as sure as I could before I said anything. It was all confusing at first.

[suffragette]

71. Yes, it can

It took me a couple loops of NHK before I caught that that coverage was being repeated.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

72. With NHK the way to tell is the dead space before the loop begins again

I've been watching them and Kyodo News since the earthquake. The only issue I have with Kyodo is, after a story leaves the breaking bar it takes a while before it gets an actual slot. Then there's the fact that either may report something and it ends up being reported differently someplace else later. It's both confusing and frustrating.

[suffragette]

73. Glad you noted that about Kyodo

I thought it was just me not being able to find the related article for some time.
Then there are all the time zones for different reports from different places.

It does get confusing.

And I've found some areas aren't followed up on, probably because with so many major events succeeding each other, they go on to the new issue.

I have found details about some of these elsewhere, sometimes.

For example, I found more info on radiation drifting to other areas in a story from a Guardian reporter on Kesennuma.
And some info on a reporter from Der Spiegel and possibly staff from the German embassy deciding to leave Japan because of concerns about radiation drifting to Tokyo. And this was before this event. Found that in a Der Spiegel blog on the Guardian site.

And earlier today, I noticed France24 had a live blog and had some items other news blogs didn't.

[MineralMan]

50. This is not a good sign. I'm very fearful for the people in that area.

This disaster just keeps getting worse, it appears. I'll be following the news as best I can, and trying to sort out the fact from the speculation. It's not easy.

[flamingdem]

54. NHK news conference: suppression chamber may have been damaged

depending on where damage occurred .. if crack occurred near air or liquid .. it depends on the location of the crack. Either air or water containing radioactive substance will be emitted.

They note that it went from 10,000 to 3,800 micro cevert ... so they hope the leakage was stopped.

The fact it went up points to leakage.

[meow mix]

55. crap, help!

cant believe this

[jimlup]

60. Uh Oh!

This is seriously the crap highway... these reactors are chain failing. It is astounding to me that I'm arguing with people on a mainstream site that:

1. One shouldn't trust the officials, particularly when they say "everything is under control".

2. "This is a minor accident and illustrates the safety of nuclear energy."

Holy Crap!

[suffragette]

66. FLASH: Fukushima's No. 2 reactor container damaged, radiation leak feared (09:41)

Kyodo news banner is saying the reactor container is damaged:

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/78008.html

FLASH: Fukushima's No. 2 reactor container damaged, radiation leak feared (09:41)
BREAKING NEWS: TEPCO admits possibility of meltdown at Fukushima reactors (09:29)