ID :
169937
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 11:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/169937
The shortlink copeid
Grayish Smoke Rises from No. 3 Reactor of Fukushima N-Plant
Tokyo, March 21 (Jiji Press)--Tokyo Electric Power Co. <9501> said Monday it has received a report from a troubled nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture that grayish smoke was billowing out of the southeastern side of the roof of the building of the plant's No. 3 reactor.
In the wake of the report at around 3:55 p.m. (6:55 a.m. GMT), the power company ordered workers there to evacuate, it said, adding that no explosion was heard.
The spent nuclear fuel pool of the reactor at Tokyo Electric Power's Fukushima No. 1 plant in the northeastern Japan prefecture is located near the roof where the smoke was observed.
However, the smoke stopped rising at around 5:55 p.m., the company said.
Tokyo Electric Power also said white smoke was seen rising from the mountain side of the roof of the building of the plant's No. 2 reactor at around 6:20 p.m.
The company, however, said radiation levels at the plant showed no significant changes.
The pressure level inside the containment vessel of the No. 3 reactor also showed no significant change, the company said.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the industry ministry said it is unlikely that the spent nuclear fuel rods at the No. 3 reactor are damaged.
The development happened after workers including from the Tokyo Fire Department sprayed seawater over the fuel pool of the No. 3 reactor for six and half hours to around 4 a.m.
Self-Defense Forces troops also doused where the fuel pool of the No. 4 reactor is located with water for about two hours from 6:40 a.m.
Following days of water-spraying operations, water levels in the fuel pools have risen and the water temperatures have declined. Radiation leaks from the damaged spent fuel rods are also believed to be decreasing, experts said.
In the wake of the report at around 3:55 p.m. (6:55 a.m. GMT), the power company ordered workers there to evacuate, it said, adding that no explosion was heard.
The spent nuclear fuel pool of the reactor at Tokyo Electric Power's Fukushima No. 1 plant in the northeastern Japan prefecture is located near the roof where the smoke was observed.
However, the smoke stopped rising at around 5:55 p.m., the company said.
Tokyo Electric Power also said white smoke was seen rising from the mountain side of the roof of the building of the plant's No. 2 reactor at around 6:20 p.m.
The company, however, said radiation levels at the plant showed no significant changes.
The pressure level inside the containment vessel of the No. 3 reactor also showed no significant change, the company said.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the industry ministry said it is unlikely that the spent nuclear fuel rods at the No. 3 reactor are damaged.
The development happened after workers including from the Tokyo Fire Department sprayed seawater over the fuel pool of the No. 3 reactor for six and half hours to around 4 a.m.
Self-Defense Forces troops also doused where the fuel pool of the No. 4 reactor is located with water for about two hours from 6:40 a.m.
Following days of water-spraying operations, water levels in the fuel pools have risen and the water temperatures have declined. Radiation leaks from the damaged spent fuel rods are also believed to be decreasing, experts said.
