The situation has spiraled out of control -- all plant workers needed to leave the plant

[FourScore]

Japan Faces Potential Nuclear Disaster as Radiation Levels Rise
By HIROKO TABUCHI, KEITH BRADSHER and MATTHEW L. WALD
Published: March 14, 2011

TOKYO — Japan faced the likelihood of a catastrophic nuclear accident Tuesday morning, as an explosion at the most crippled of three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station damaged its crucial steel containment structure, emergency workers were withdrawn from the plant, and much larger emissions of radioactive materials appeared immiment, according to official statements and industry executives informed about the developments...

SNIP

...Government officials also said the containment structure of the No. 2 reactor had suffered damage during an explosion shortly after 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

They initially suggested that the damage was limited and that emergency operations aimed at cooling the nuclear fuel at three stricken reactors with seawater would continue. But industry executives said that in fact the situation had spiraled out of control and that all plant workers needed to leave the plant to avoid excessive exposure to radioactive leaks.

If all workers do in fact leave the plant, the nuclear fuel in all three reactors is likely to melt down, which would lead to wholesale releases of radioactive material — by far the largest accident of its kind since the Chernobyl disaster 25 years ago...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/world/asia/15nuclear.html

[tabatha]

1. How are they going to deal with this situation now?

[Wilms]

2. It's a clean-up operation now.

If they're sending the workers out, there's no one there to attempt cooling the plants.

[kestrel91316]

14. How does one "clean up" a melt-down in progress?

[Wilms]

15. You don't.

The aftermath of this is what will have to be mopped up. And who knows how long that will take.

[adigal]

17. Chernobyl used robots n/t

[FourScore]

19. The robots didn't work. The radiation desroyed the electronics of them.

It's much more heartbreaking. They called in thousands of military grunts. They were forced to take shovels of, was it cement?, and dump it into the whole. Their names were never documented, so it was impossible to follow-up years later. They had no protective gear.

It was a travesty.

[Saboburns]

3. That would be the worst thing to do

They must continue cooling the reaction by injecting seawater by hand. They leave now we get a full meltdown.

Now is not the time to panic.

[brooklynite]

4. Would YOU stay to work the pumps?

[Saboburns]

9. Yeah I probably would in this situation

but maybe not.

My guess is I'll never have to find out.

[FourScore]

10. I would probably stay too.

I have kids, so it would be hard. Who knows what a person does in that situation?

[FourScore]

5. It's from the article.

Exact quote:

They initially suggested that the damage was limited and that emergency operations aimed at cooling the nuclear fuel at three stricken reactors with seawater would continue. But industry executives said that in fact the situation had spiraled out of control and that all plant workers needed to leave the plant to avoid excessive exposure to radioactive leaks.

If all workers do in fact leave the plant, the nuclear fuel in all three reactors is likely to melt down, which would lead to wholesale releases of radioactive material — by far the largest accident of its kind since the Chernobyl disaster 25 years ago.

[snagglepuss]

7. That means the MOX as well. That is unimaginable:(

[CoffeeCat]

6. Are they saying that it's melting through steel?

Steel melts at 1700 degrees, is that correct? If so, there's no way to stop the
chain reaction then is there?

Or was it the explosion itself that damaged the steel containment structure?

[FourScore]

8. I think it is all still very unclear. n/t

[Electric Monk]

20. nuclear and unclear are a small typo apart

I just noticed that, fwiw...

[Thunderstruck]

11. If I'm understanding NHK right, the radiation level is up to 100 Milliseiverts now

I take it that is more than Mseiverts.

Said that level can affect testicles and fertility, and some other bad stuff. They are going with full-blown instructions right now.

[FourScore]

12. I don't understand all these levels. Is there a chart or something? n/t

[jtuck004]

28. Here is a conversion and some other info

http://www.radiation-scott.org/radsource/2-0.htm

http://www.blackcatsystems.com/GM/safe_radiation.html

[themadstork]

13. Isn't this article a bit out of date?

I saw it but did not take it as commenting on the immediate circumstances.

[FourScore]

16. If by "out of date" you mean it wasn't written in the last 15 minutes, then, yeah, I guess so...

It's the most current I can find.

[themadstork]

18. I mean something like several hours ago

But I'm not sure. Is there an exact time stamp? I'm worried that the "spiraling out of control" comment may be too outdated to help us.

[Rex]

21. I am confused by what you posted.

Did you mean, because of the age of the article everything might be under control now? Thanks.

[themadstork]

25. Nah sorry it's pretty recent. I was confused.

However I still thing the "spiraling out of control" comment is a little alarmist. The situation's obviously dire, but having all the workers leave would mean accepting total disaster. Doesn't seem like we're fucked quite that badly yet.

[Rex]

27. Okay thanks that was what I was wondering.

I hope the Japanese can gain the upperhand in this situation.

[Hannah Bell]

22. it's the same information given at the press conference several hours

ago. most of the workers are leaving, 50 will stay to pump water & fight fire.

it's posted as though it were a new development, with the "spiralling out of control" making it seem like it's something new.

DU is not the place to be during a crisis.

[FourScore]

23. LOL - it probably really isn't.

I thought the article was pretty current. I posted it soon after the presser.

[Hannah Bell]

29. you posted it soon after the presser because they got the info from the presser.

govt, reactor, & nuke agency pressers is where all the information that shows up in articles is coming from.

[themadstork]

26. Yes - it's no more recent than the presser. The spiraling out of control comment is misleading

insofar as it makes one think things have totally gone to shit since. Pulling out all workers right now would be a mistake.

[FourScore]

24. Do you know of further developments that are more current? n/t