Partial meltdowns probably occurring according to government
From ABC News:
Partial Meltdown Likely Under Way at Second Reactor, Japan Government Spokesman Says [10:05 p.m.]—
The NY Times and CNN are reporting the same thing. CNN says a meltdown may also be occurring at the #1 reactor. They are quoting chief cabinet secretary, Yukio Edano.
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From NBC News:
It is the first time a Japanese nuclear plant has ever experienced any level of reactor core melting.
Officials said that at one point, the plant was releasing each hour the amount of radiation a person normally absorbs from the environment each year. Earlier Edano said TEPCO has begun new cooling operations to fill the reactor where the melting occurred with seawater and pour in boric acid, which absorbs neutrons, an operation expected to take several hours, Kyodo reported. Filling the entire reactor container with seawater will take about 10 days, Edano said. It is likely that the reactor will have to be decommissioned because of the contamination by salts and other substances, experts said, according to Kyodo. Robert Alvarez, senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies and former senior policy adviser to the U.S. secretary of energy, said in a briefing for reporters that the seawater was a desperate measure. “It’s a Hail Mary pass,” he said. He said that the success of using seawater and boron to cool the reactor will depend on the volume and rate of their distribution.
Officials said that at one point, the plant was releasing each hour the amount of radiation a person normally absorbs from the environment each year. Earlier Edano said TEPCO has begun new cooling operations to fill the reactor where the melting occurred with seawater and pour in boric acid, which absorbs neutrons, an operation expected to take several hours, Kyodo reported. Filling the entire reactor container with seawater will take about 10 days, Edano said. It is likely that the reactor will have to be decommissioned because of the contamination by salts and other substances, experts said, according to Kyodo. Robert Alvarez, senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies and former senior policy adviser to the U.S. secretary of energy, said in a briefing for reporters that the seawater was a desperate measure. “It’s a Hail Mary pass,” he said. He said that the success of using seawater and boron to cool the reactor will depend on the volume and rate of their distribution.
doug
Because of the Fukushima nuclear power plant “issues,” the government just announced rolling blackouts across the country are likely to occur going forward in order secure enough energy to deal with problems in the worst hit areas. So now it appears highly likely I will lose power. If you don’t hear from me for a while, that’s all it is.doug