Fukushima may have been doomed before the tsunami hit

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-05/15/c_13875604.htm

Key facilitis in Fukushima plant could have collapsed before tsunami: report

2011-05-15 14:19:34

TOKYO, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Key facilities at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power may have been damaged by the quake itself that day rather than tsunami-caused power loss that failed the reactor's cooling function, Kyodo News quoted a utility source said Saturday.

Data taken by workers entering the No. 1 reactor building at the crippled plant on the night of March 11 showing the radiation level was as high as 300 millisieverts per hour suggest a large amount of radioactive materials from nuclear fuel in the reactor was already released. snip

Kyodo said a source at TEPCO admitted the possibility of key facilities having been compromised before the tsunami waves, saying, "The quake's trembling may have caused damage to the pressure vessel or pipes."