More problems at Fukushima nuclear plant
Posted Mar 21, 2011 8:05 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Workers have been evacuated from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant after smoke was spotted at the badly damaged number 3 reactor on Monday.
Officials don’t know if they’re dealing with hydrogen gas or steam.
More than 1,000 tonnes of water has been sprayed on the reactor in the past day alone.
Crews could soon start spraying the plant’s reactors with concrete, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying workers are being trained to use a concrete pump engine — one strategy to possibly curb the release of more radioactive material.
There are concerns about radiation in the food supply, so the government has put restrictions on the sale of vegetables and milk from the Fukushima area.
The country’s health ministry says very high levels of radioactive iodine have been detected in tap water in the area around the nuclear plant.
It’s been 10 days since the earthquake and tsunami hit the region. Japanese police say the death toll will likely exceed 18,000.
