Work to restore power halted as smoke seen at Fukushima reactors

[flamingdem]

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/80007.html

TOKYO, March 21, Kyodo

Work to connect power cables to the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors was halted Monday at the crisis-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, after smoke rose from the buildings housing the No. 2 and No. 3 reactors, the plant operator said.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said it will resume the operation on Tuesday after observing the situation at the site.

TEPCO said it had briefly evacuated its workers after grayish and blackish smoke was spotted at the southeast of the No. 3 reactor building around 3:55 p.m. above a pool storing spent nuclear fuel, though a blast was not heard.

The smoke stopped after 6 p.m., but TEPCO subsequently found that white smoke was rising through a crack in the roof of the building that houses the No. 2 reactor at around 6:20 p.m. The utility said later the smoke is believed to be steam, not from the reactor's fuel pool.

[flamingdem]

1. Japanese government raises legal radiation level 15 times (okay..)

Traces of radioactive substances detected in water in 9 prefectures
TOKYO, March 21, Kyodo

A radiation level of 100,000 counts per minute will be introduced as a new standard for decontamination, up from 6,000 counts per minute, the government said, adding that raising the bar will not endanger health.

The government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said the decision was made based on advice from domestic nuclear experts and the International Atomic Energy Agency

[Junkdrawer]

2. I see a big market for Geiger Counters in Japan....

Get my secretary on the phone....

[flamingdem]

3. Yes! In Taiwan they are offering a free radiation check with dinner

at a Japanese restaurant already.