Nuclear emergency declared at quake-damaged reactor

[googlegoogle]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2...reactors_N.htm

[orange]

Originally Posted by teedubya

This is no ****ing bueno.

They can't hover because of the radiation, so they're dropping the water on the move, and it's spraying all over.

They're screwed.

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by loochy

Aren't the Japanese supposed to be good at making robots or something?

[tk13]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapc...ex.html?hpt=T1

Spent fuel rods in Unit 4 of Japan's stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant have been exposed, resulting in the emission of "extremely high" levels of radiation, the head of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Wednesday.

"What we believe at this time is that there has been a hydrogen explosion in this unit due to an uncovering of the fuel in the fuel pool," Gregory Jaczko told a House energy and commerce subcommittee hearing. "We believe that secondary containment has been destroyed and there is no water in the spent fuel pool, and we believe that radiation levels are extremely high, which could possibly impact the ability to take corrective measures."

The water served to both cool the uranium fuel and shield it. But once the uranium fuel was no longer covered by water, the zirconium cladding that encases the fuel rods heated, generating hydrogen, said Robert Alvarez, senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies and a former official with the Department of Energy.

That caught fire, resulting in a situation that is "very, very serious," he told CNN. He said the next step may involve nuclear plant workers taking heroic acts. Asked to be more specific, he said, "This is a situation where people may be called in to sacrifice their lives. ... It's very difficult for me to contemplate that but it's, it may have reached that point."

[orange]

Aerial operations have been suspended and helicopters removed from the site.

Now it's time for the riot squads and water cannons.

[Ebolapox]

weird question: does radiation have any effect on superman? if not, isn't it about time we called him in?

Why don't we just send people in who are already suffering from terminal cancer. Hello. Might even cure them. Who knows?

[DaFace]

I found this "snapshot" from Reuters to be informative in summarizing everything:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7EF28320110317

(Reuters) - Following are main developments after a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated northeast Japan and crippled a nuclear power station, raising the risk of uncontrolled radiation.

(For the main story, click

- Japanese military helicopter begins spraying water on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to try and cool spent fuel rods.

- Plant operator says getting water to No.3 reactor priority because of smoke/steam escaping, indicating water evaporating from the cooling pool.

- The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog says core damage at reactors 1, 2 and 3 of the plant is confirmed, but reactor vessels seem intact. Says the situation is "very serious".

- Top U.S. nuclear regulator says no water left in No. 4 reactor cooling pool, radiation levels extremely high.

- Japan nuclear agency says radioactivity levels continue to fall at the plant. Eight staff members taking readings in shifts.

- Yen surges to a record high against the dollar, Japanese shares and stocks elsewhere slide on growing nuclear worries.

- Mizhuo Bank says all its automated teller machines have stopped working across Japan

- Tokyo is safe for international travellers, the Japanese Red Cross says.

* Britain advises its citizens in Japan to consider leaving Tokyo and the area north of the capital

- There is no evidence of a significant spread of radiation from Japan's crippled nuclear plants, the World Health Organisation says.

- No plan yet to extend evacuation zone near the facility, 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo.

- Australia urges its citizens with non-essential roles to consider leaving Tokyo and the most damaged prefectures, and Turkey warns citizens against travelling to Japan. France urges nationals living in Tokyo to leave country or move south.

- Tens of thousands of people are still missing since Friday's quake and tsunami. About 850,000 households in the north without electricity in near-freezing weather. Death toll is expected to exceed 10,000.

(Tokyo bureau; Compiled by World Desk Asia)

[Donger]

It seems it's time for suicide missions. God Bless, gentlemen. Thank you.

[WoodDraw]

I wonder if they even think these water drops can be effective. Looking at a picture of the drop, it's kinda like, "uh, okay?"

They're bringing in water trucks too, I suppose.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Donger

It seems it's time for suicide missions. God Bless, gentlemen. Thank you.

with the strong caveat that the media seems to be currently blanketed with ill-sourced implausible stories that are debunked hours later, so this story could be complete and utter bullcrap, one thing that was very interesting to me is reading how the US is upset about how Japan is handling it. In what way? Some of the stories suggested that the powers that be in the US think that Japan is being too careful with shielding their first responders from danger.

Where basically we're taking the position of "yes, we know this is dangerous, yes we know a lot of people could get cancer and die early, but screw it, there's got to be some people willing to die for your country, right? They might not be soldiers, but this sh*t has to be done no matter what, screw being careful, ask for volunteers, make sure they understand that they might die, and send their ass in there. Fix your sh*t, and talk about how they were brave and wonderful and how they either died for their country or might get cancer for their country after this is done!"

I'm not sure how accurate this is since you'd think that the Japanese culture would be more willing to sacrifice, but there you are. I also have to agree with that sentiment. If some crazy-ass one in several hundred year disaster strikes Boston or wherever and you think a few hundred people volunteering to shorten their lifespan could help hundreds of thousands or millions of people, then you should at least poll the workers to see if any older men want to do it.

[Dylan]

It is telling that Al Jazeera staff in Asia is more up to date on the crisis in Japan than the U.S. media.

Aljazeera was the first to break this story (highlighted) live over seven hours ago:



3:14am (GMT)

The US military has delivered high-pressure water pumps to Japan to help cool Fukushima's crisis-hit nuclear power plant.

The pumps were ferried to Yokota Air Force Base for use at the crippled Fukushima plant, with four additional pumps delivered from Sasebo, in Japan's southwest, the US Pacific Fleet said in a statement.

Rising temperatures caused by damage to the cooling system pumps during Friday's earthquake are cauding the water in the reactor cores to turn to steam, increasing pressure, and exposing the fuel rods.

When the fuel rods become even partly exposed, the temperature increases rapidly, turning more of the water to steam, and increasing pressure even more quickly. When the rods come into contact with steam, rather than water, hydrogen is produced.

With large amounts of hydrogen held in a container whose heat and pressure is increasing rapidly, there is a risk of an explosion, which may damage the containment vessel and allow nuclear fuel to leak out, spreading large amounts of radiation.

The high-pressure pumps are used to re-fill the reactor cores as the water level begins to drop, replacing the water at a speed which cools both the rods and the chamber, reducing pressure and averting the potential for a meltdown.


http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/asia...h-17-live-blog

[jiveturkey]

I wondered about pumps. The ocean is right there.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by orange

They can't hover because of the radiation, so they're dropping the water on the move, and it's spraying all over.

They're screwed.

If true, this is completely rediculous, and an indictment of how Japan is handling this. I really doubt the dose is that horrible for a quick 5 minute exposure. Get the helicopter steady and do it right. If the pilot doesn't want to go, find someone (maybe an older guy) who will.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Just nuke it. They'll cancel each other out

[Dylan]

I watching Anderson Cooper on CNN:

Kind of funny that the U.S. calling Japan liars about their flawed results showed radiation levels 10-100 (?) times higher than expected; especially in light of underestimating the magnitude of the Gulf spill by our own government.

I swear, this administration have absolutely no shame.