Tokyo: In Japan, after the powerful Earthquake last week, two reactors at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant have indicated a possible loss of cooling water levels. The operator of the plant told me about this on Friday. Damage due to the earthquake will complicate the process of closing the plant and may take a long time. Tokyo Electric Power Company spokesman Keisuke Matsuo said that after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Saturday, the water level in Units One and Three indicated that one part of it had suffered more damage.
He said the water from the leak was likely to remain inside the reactor building and no signs of any impact on the structure were found outside. In 2011, the Fukushima plant’s cooling system was damaged due to a 9.1 magnitude earthquake and then a tsunami that severely affected the plant’s three reactors. He said the company would monitor the water level and temperature in the reactor structure.
In 2011, after the loss, additional cooling water was provided for the reactor building. The recent decrease in water level indicates more leakage than before. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, more than 180 people were marginally injured in the earthquake on Saturday.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company initially stated that there was no disturbance at the plant due to the earthquake. However, the High Court of Tokyo held Tokyo Electric Power responsible for the 2011 nuclear accident and ordered a compensation of 28 million yuan to 40 people.
