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Coordinates: 37°25′17″N 141°01′57″E / 37.4214°N 141.0325°E / 37.4214; 141.0325
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Undid revision 418437641 by JCDenton2052 (talk) - This is NOT a disaster at this stage, just an emergency.
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At 10:07 GMT Reuters reported that the exclusion zone has been extended to {{convert|20|km|mi}} around the plant.<ref>http://live.reuters.com/Event/Japan_earthquake2</ref> BBC correspondent Nick Ravenscroft was stopped {{convert|60|km|mi}} from the plant by police.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12720219</ref>
At 10:07 GMT Reuters reported that the exclusion zone has been extended to {{convert|20|km|mi}} around the plant.<ref>http://live.reuters.com/Event/Japan_earthquake2</ref> BBC correspondent Nick Ravenscroft was stopped {{convert|60|km|mi}} from the plant by police.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12720219</ref>

Japanese authorities have confirmed a nuclear meltdown.{{source?}}


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 11:34, 12 March 2011

Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant
The Fukushima 1 NPP
Map
CountryJapan
Coordinates37°25′17″N 141°01′57″E / 37.4214°N 141.0325°E / 37.4214; 141.0325
StatusDecommissioned
Construction began1966
Commission dateMarch 26, 1971 (1971-03-26)
Decommission date
  • 11 March 2011
Owner
OperatorTokyo Electric Power Company
Power generation
Nameplate capacity
  • 0 MW
External links
Websitewww.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/press/f1-np/index-e.html
CommonsRelated media on Commons
[edit on Wikidata]

The Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant (福島第一原子力発電所, Fukushima dai-ichi genshiryoku hatsudensho, Fukushima I NPP, 1F), often referred to as Fukushima Dai-ichi, is a nuclear power plant located in the town of Okuma in the Futaba District of Fukushima Prefecture. With six separate units located on site with a combined power of 4.7 GW, Fukushima I is one of the 25 largest nuclear power stations in the world. Fukushima I is the first nuclear plant to be constructed and run entirely by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).

In March 2011, in the immediate wake of the Sendai earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese government declared an “atomic power emergency” and evacuated thousands of residents living close to Fukushima I. Ryohei Shiomi of Japan's nuclear safety commission said that officials are concerned about the possibility of a meltdown.[1]

Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant, 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) to the south, is also run by TEPCO.

Reactors on site

Aerial view of the plant
Unit Type First criticality Electric power
Fukushima I – 1 BWR March 26, 1971 460 MW
Fukushima I – 2 BWR July 18, 1974 784 MW
Fukushima I – 3 BWR March 27, 1976 784 MW
Fukushima I – 4 BWR October 12, 1978 784 MW
Fukushima I – 5 BWR April 18, 1978 784 MW
Fukushima I – 6 BWR October 24, 1979 1,100 MW
Fukushima I – 7 (planned) ABWR October 2013 1,380 MW
Fukushima I – 8 (planned) ABWR October 2014 1,380 MW

2011 earthquake events

After the March 11, 2011, earthquake, Nuclear Engineering International reported that units 1 to 3 were automatically shut down, and units 4 to 6 were already in maintenance outages.[2] Diesel generators installed to provide backup power for the cooling systems for units 1–3 were damaged by the tsunami;[3] they started up correctly but then stopped abruptly about 1 hour later.[4] Because cooling is needed to remove residual reactor heat, in Japan a nuclear emergency is declared upon cooling problems and therefore a nuclear emergency was declared—for the first time—when the diesel engines failed. Batteries, which last about eight hours, were being used to power the reactor controls and valves during the electrical outage.[5][6][7] Japanese ground forces were said to be trucking generators and batteries to the site.[8]

An evacuation order was issued to people living within 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of the plant, affecting approximately 5800 residents living near the power plant. People living less than 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the power plant were advised to stay indoors.[9] Later the evacuation was expanded to a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) radius, and then even further to a 20 kilometres (12 mi) radius.[10][11][12]

Past midnight local time, it was reported that The Tokyo Electric Power Company was considering venting hot gas from the reactor vessel number 1 into the atmosphere, which could result in the release of radiation.[13] The Tokyo Electric Company reported that radiation levels were rising in the turbine building for reactor 1.[14] At 2:00 JST, the pressure inside the reactor was reported to be 600kPa (6 bar or 87 psi), 200 kPa (2 bar or 29 psi) higher than under normal conditions.[4] At 5:30 JST the pressure inside Reactor 1 was reported to be 2.1 times the "design capacity",[15] 820 kPa (8.2 bar or 120 psi).[16] At 6:10 JST, the IAEA reported that unit 2 was also experiencing cooling problems.[17]

Wikinews has related news:

To reduce mounting pressure potentially radioactive steam has been released from the primary circuit, into the secondary containment.[18] On March 12, 2011 at 6:40 JST, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano stated that the amount of potential radiation would be small and that the prevailing winds are blowing out to sea.[19] Measured radiation levels inside the plant control room were reported to be 1000 times greater than normal.[20] Radiation levels measured at a monitoring post near the plant's main gate were reported to be more than eight times above normal.[21][22] In a press release at 7 am (local) March 12, TEPCO stated "Measurement of radioactive material (Iodine, etc.) by monitoring car indicates increasing value compared to normal level. One of the monitoring posts is also indicating higher than normal level."[12] At 13:30 local time, radioactive caesium was detected near reactor 1.[23][24] Fuel rods may have been exposed to the air.[25]

The Prime Minister of Japan, Naoto Kan, visited the plant for a briefing on March 12, 2011.[26] Tokyo fire department sent a special nuclear rescue team to Fukushima.[27]

Over 50,000 have been evacuated during March 12.[28]

Explosion

At 7:30 GMT on March 12, there was an explosion at the plant.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). At 0800 GMT, Fox News Channel reported the explosion and a plume of "white smoke" rising above the plant.[29] At 0803 GMT BBC News reported that Japan's NHK TV reported the explosion as "near" the plant, and that four workers were injured.[30] Reuters is also reporting that NHK claims the explosion blew the entire outer structure off of the containment building of Unit 1.[31] The video on BBC NewsCite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). shows both a close-up and distance view of the explosion.

The Guardian is reporting that NHK is advising residents of the Fukushima area "to stay inside, close doors and windows and turn off air conditioning. They have also been advised to cover their mouths with masks, towels or handkerchiefs" as well as not to drink tap water.[32] Other news agencies have reported information on a definite explosion at the plant.[33][34] At 9:43 GMT officials have confirmed that an explosion has occurred at the nuclear plant.[35].

An increase in radiation levels has been confirmed following the explosion.[36][37] The hourly radiation within the plant was measured at 1,045 μSv,[citation needed] which is equal to the permitted exposure limit for a single person over one year.[citation needed]

At 10:07 GMT Reuters reported that the exclusion zone has been extended to 20 kilometres (12 mi) around the plant.[38] BBC correspondent Nick Ravenscroft was stopped 60 kilometres (37 mi) from the plant by police.[39]

Japanese authorities have confirmed a nuclear meltdown.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2011-03-12-japan-reactor_N.htm
  2. ^ "Japan initiates emergency protocol after earthquake". Nuclear Engineering International. March 11, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  3. ^ "Japan Earthquake Update (2030 CET)". IAEA Alert Log. International Atomic Energy Agency. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Massive earthquake hits Japan World Nuclear News, March 11, 2011 2148h GMT (update 8)
  5. ^ Scott DiSavino (March 11, 2011). "Snap analysis: Japan may have hours to prevent nuclear meltdown". Reuters. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  6. ^ Tsuyoshi Inajima and Yuji Okada (March 11, 2011). "Japan Orders Evacuation From Near Nuclear Plant After Quake". Bloomberg. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  7. ^ Wald, Matthew L., (March 11, 2011). "Emergency Declared at Japanese Nuclear Plant". The New York Times. Retrieved March 11, 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Los Angeles Times. Japan trying to prevent meltdown at nuclear plant in Fukushima. March 11, 2011.
  9. ^ Bloomberg. Tsuyoshi Inajima and Yuji Okada. Japan Orders Evacuation From Near Nuclear Plant After Quake. March, 11, 2011, 14:11:59 GMT.
  10. ^ All Things Nuclear • Containment at Fukushima. Allthingsnuclear.org. Retrieved on March 12, 2011.
  11. ^ Nikkei, Radiation Could Already Have Leaked At Nuke Plant. March, 12, 2011, 7:20 JST.
  12. ^ a b Impact to TEPCO's Facilities due to Miyagiken-Oki Earthquake (as of 7 am), TEPCO News website, press release as of 7 am JST.
  13. ^ "asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：福島原発炉内蒸気、外に逃す作業検討　放射能漏れの恐れ – 社会".
  14. ^ "Radiation level rising in Fukushima Nuclear Plant turbine building." Nikkei.com. March 12, 2011(Japan time). Retrieved18:30 GMT March 11, 2011.
  15. ^ [1]"Fukushima reactor pressure may have hit 2.1 times capacity -METI," Maeda, Rita, Reuters wire service, quoting Japan Trade Ministry (20:30 GMT) March 12, 2011 (Tokyo time)
  16. ^ "Battle to stabilise earthquake reactors , update 4". World Nuclear News. March 12, 2010 152 AM GMT. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Japan Earthquake Update (2210 CET) : IAEA Alert Log. Iaea.org. Retrieved on March 12, 2011.
  18. ^ Radiation 1K times normal at one Japan nuke plant. Content.usatoday.com (January 3, 2011). Retrieved on March 12, 2011.
  19. ^ International Business Times. Japan warns of small radiation leak from quake-hit plant Retrieved March 11, 2011, 9:48 pm (GMT)
  20. ^ Kyodo News English. Radiation 1,000 times higher than normal detected at nuke plant, March 11, 2011, 9:40 pm (GMT)
  21. ^ Report: 2 Japanese plants struggling to cool radioactive material. CNN.com. Retrieved on March 12, 2011.
  22. ^ News blog on earth quake events, CNN, March 12, 2011 entry of 0:45 E.T.
  23. ^ http://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/ann/news/web/html/210312157.html
  24. ^ http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/77025.html
  25. ^ http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110312D12JF423.htm
  26. ^ "Kan inspects quake-hit nuclear plant in Fukushima". Kyodo News. March 12, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  27. ^ http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/World/Blast_In_Fukushima_Nuclear_Plant_Massive_Radiation-3233.html
  28. ^ http://www.businessinsider.com/fukushima-nuclear-plant-2011-3
  29. ^ Fox News Channel Breaking News Alert (live TV coverage), 3:00 am EST, March 12
  30. ^ Live blog, BBC News, March 12, 2011
  31. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/12/japan-quake-idUSL3E7EC07M20110312
  32. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/12/japan-tsunami-earthquake-live-coverage
  33. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/12/3162450.htm?section=world
  34. ^ http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/japans-fukushima-no1-nuclear-power-plant-explodes/story-e6frfku0-1226020387955
  35. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698
  36. ^ http://finchannel.com/news_flash/World/82983_Radiation_levels_increase_at_Fukushima_No.1_after_blast_reports/
  37. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/12/us-japan-quake-idUSTRE72A0SS20110312
  38. ^ http://live.reuters.com/Event/Japan_earthquake2
  39. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12720219
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