http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2011/03/view_from_tokyo_meltdown_and_p.html<snip>
Various experts tried to explain the shaking, some conjecturing an aftershock others offering different versions of a reactor explosion. Bit by bit, the scientists started to reach the same conclusion: the government has to tell us what’s happening. One lamented that Japan lacked a “mission center” such as what would be expected in other countries.
The experts started giving advice to those in the evacuation zone—wear long sleeves, masks, etc to cover the body and stay inside whenever possible and close any fans or vents. Meanwhile hundreds of people were being evacuated. News that helicopter evacuations had been halted due to heavy smoke were followed by reports of self defense forces’ lifting nearly 200 elderly from an assisted living facility in helicopters.
Press conferences between 5 and 7 by the chief cabinet secretary and a NISA official meant to clarify the situation clarified nothing. The main thrust was: there has been “an explosive incident” and we are looking into it. “please stay calm,” said Yukio Edano, the cabinet secretary, though the uncertainty was only building tension.
Finally, around 9, Edano explained that hydrogen collecting in the facility exploded the walls of the facility but left the steel container holding the reactor in tact.
At 8:20, they started pouring in seawater but an aftershock forced it to stop at 10:15. It doesn’t seem to be filling the tank, leading to fears that there is a leak and the reactor will never be properly cooled. Edano confirmed that the plant had been emitting 1,015 ?Sv per hour—about the same as one would be allowed for one year—before the explosion, but he said large amounts of radiation were not being reported now. There are, however, reports that 190 people are affected by radiation.
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