Worst Case Scenario Imminent
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2011Mar 14, 2011 22:28 EDT
FUKUSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) - Japan's prime minister said on Tuesday that radioactive levels had become high around an earthquake-stricken nuclear power plant after an explosion there, and there was a risk of radiation leaking into the atmosphere.
Naoto Kan urged people within 30 km (18 miles) of the facility north of Tokyo to remain indoors and the French embassy in the capital warned in an advisory that a low level of radioactive wind could reach Tokyo within 10 hours.
/03/japan_warns_radioactive_levels_high_around_plant_a.php?ref=fpblg
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Japan Faces Potential Nuclear Disaster as Radiation Levels Rise
By HIROKO TABUCHI, KEITH BRADSHER and MATTHEW L. WALD
Published: March 14, 2011
Important new developments in the Japan nuclear crisis which suggest that the situation at the most stricken plant has spiraled out of control, forcing the evacuation of workers who were trying to regain control of the reactors, according to the New York Times.
The blast appeared to be different — and more severe — than those that at two other troubled reactor at the same nuclear complex because this one, reported to have occurred at 6:14 a.m., happened in the “pressure suppression room” in the cooling area of the reactor, raising the possibility to damage to the reactor’s containment vessel.MORE HERE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/world/asia/15nuclear.html?hp.........
Live English language coverage from NHK World here
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/03/live_feed_from_japan.php#more?ref=fpblg.............
4th reactor now on fire at nuke plant in Japan
by John Aravosis (DC) on 3/14/2011 10:29:00 PM
UPDATE: From Kyodo News:
http://english.kyodonews.jp/ NEWS ADVISORY: Radiation of up to 9 times normal level briefly detected in Kanagawa
11:37 15 March
BREAKING NEWS: Radiation 400 times annual legal limit measured near No. 3 reactor
http://www.americablog.com/2011/03/4th-reactor-now-on-fire-at-nuke-plant.htmlBlast heard at Fukushima's No.2 reactor, radiation shoots up
TOKYO, March 15, Kyodo
MORE:
http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/78021.html..........
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/gamma-radiation-fukushima-downwind-ibaraki-disclosed-30-times-above-normalhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/at-two-reactors-a-race-to-contain-meltdowns/2011/03/13/ABtdVDU_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/japan-faces-catastrophic-radiation-leak-warns-people-to-stay-indoors/2011/03/14/ABdwq2V_story.htmlhttp://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-20042852-76.htmlhttp://my.firedoglake.com/scarecrow/2011/03/14/japan-nuclear-watch-third-explosion-possible-cracked-containment-at-unit-2/http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-world-tvhttp://www.livestation.com/channels/123-nhk-world-englishhttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/14/956475/-Japan-Nuclear-Disaster-liveblog......................
NYT is no longer holding back...
If all workers do in fact leave the plant, the nuclear fuel in all three reactors is likely to melt down, which would lead to wholesale releases of radioactive material — by far the largest accident of its kind since the Chernobyl disaster 25 years ago.
Reports of an imminent worsening of the problem came after a frantic day and night of rescue efforts focused largely on the No. 2 reactor. There, a malfunctioning valve prevented workers from manually venting the containment vessel to release pressure and allow fresh seawater to be injected into it. That meant that the extraordinary remedy emergency workers have been using to keep the nuclear fuel from overheating no longer worked.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/world/asia/15nuclear.html?_r=2&hp**********************
Cooper tweeted they are leaving Sendai
due to safety concerns (ie: radioactivity) so they can't broadcast the 2nd hour live. I see on twitter that BBC, ITN & Sky News are also evacuating.
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i hardly know what to do next, go to bed, stare at the wall, go for a walk, sit and cry....
pray and kiss a loved one....
kpete
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FINAL UPDATE: from Kyodo News. Reported #4 explosion at 11:53 a.m. local time and 10 minutes later reported the fire is apparently out (as a result of explosion?)
Here's the feed:
http://english.kyodonews.jp/BREAKING NEWS: Small amounts of radioactive substances detected in Tokyo
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12:04 15 March
BREAKING NEWS: Fire at No.4 reactor apparently put out: Tokyo ElectricNote
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12:02 15 March
U.S. geological body revises magnitude of Japan's mega quake to 9.0
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11:54 15 March
Kyodo news summary -2-
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11:53 15 March
BREAKING NEWS: Hydrogen explosion occurs at Fukushima No. 4 reactorNote