2011 Sendai Earthquake & Tsunami

[Crostorm]

Venting air from reactor container begins
Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says in order to avoid a breakdown at the Fukushima No.1 reactor, the operation to release air from the containment vessel began on Saturday morning.

The agency says even if radioactive substances in the container are released in the air, the amount is expected to be very small. It also says the safety of evacuated residents in 10-kilometer radius from the plant will be secured.

At one point, radiation rose to a level 1,000 times higher than usual in the central control room. Rising pressure could damage the container.

University of Tokyo professor Naoto Sekimura says before releasing air inside, radioactive substances will be removed with filters.

The operation is being conducted while also examining the amount of radioactive substance in the container and confirming that this would not affect people inside and outside the plant compound.
Saturday, March 12, 2011 11:09 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/12_31.html

[Crostorm]

Nuclear Expert: "Fukushima Has 24 Hours To Avoid A Core Meltdown Scenario"

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/nuclea ... n-scenario

[RobWESTPACWX]

What I can tell you on the reactor from a MET standpoint, the cloud of radiation should be going East with the prevailing winds at this moment, this will bring it out over water and away from the major population areas, expecially that of the Kanto Plain

Also still earthquakes coming in, 6.7 about 30 minutes ago was shot through my inbox.

On top of that power all throughout Japan is still down since most of the reactors are down as well. Just FYI

As for me still heading North will be there in less than a week, were coming all the way from Singapore so its a long hull. A few other ships are headed there as well though. I'm sure you have all seen it on the news. I know photos of the Ridge loading up relief supplies are all over it.

Wife did say last night she got no sleep though, said the building wouldnt stop shaking, I believe her with the 100+ after shocks taking place less than 100 miles from her location.

Any how that is what I got now guys, I'm going to bed soon, been up for over 26 hours now working on this... Stay safe out there guys and god bless

[Crostorm]

http://tvnewsradio.com/blog/internet-tv ... e-updates/

[Chacor]

Thanks for the updates Rob.

FWIW latest PTWC warning still carrying an 8.9 magnitude reading, not a 9.1 as earlier reported.

[Crostorm]

Venting air from reactor container suspended
The operation at Fukushima No.1 plant to lower pressure of the containment vessel has been suspended due to high radiation levels at the site.

Pressure of the reactor container is rising as its cooling system became dysfunctional due to a blackout and power generator breakdown. This has raised concern about possible damage to the container.

The power station's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, began to vent air from the reactor container at 9AM on Saturday.

Under the plan, 2 valves close to the container would be opened manually, but radiation level on the second valve was found higher than expected.

The operation has been suspended because of the possibility that workers could be exposed to radiation. The utility is reportedly studying how to open the valve by replacing workers at a short interval, or using electric remote control.

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says if radioactive substance is released in the air, safety of residents evacuated beyond a 10-kilometer radius from the No.1 reactor will be ensured.
Saturday, March 12, 2011 13:09 +0900 (JST)

[HURAKAN]

Thanks Rob for the update! Saty safe!

Floater over Sendau, Japan

Link: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/mtsatfloat1.html

[Brent]

BreakingNews: Explosion heard at quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan - AFP via Sky News

[Bunkertor]

BreakingNews: Explosion heard at quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan - AFP via Sky News

[Chacor]

A massive explosion has struck a Japanese nuclear power plant after Friday's devastating earthquake.

A huge pall of smoke was seen coming from the plant at Fukushima and several workers were injured.

Japanese officials fear a meltdown at one of the plant's reactors after radioactive material was detected outside it.

A huge relief operation is under way after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami, which killed more than 600.

Hundreds more people are missing and it is feared about 1,300 may have died.

The offshore earthquake triggered a tsunami which wreaked havoc on Japan's north-east coast, sweeping far inland and devastating a number of towns and villages.

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan declared a state of emergency at the Fukushima 1 and 2 power plants as engineers try to confirm whether a reactor at one of the stations has gone into meltdown.

It is an automatic procedure after nuclear reactors shut down in the event of an earthquake, allowing officials to take rapid action.

Television pictures showed a massive blast at one of the buildings of the Fukushima 1 plant, about 250km (160 miles) north-east of Tokyo.

A huge cloud of smoke billows out and large bits of debris are flung far from the building.

Japan's NHK TV showed before and after pictures of the plant. They appeared to show that the outer structure of one of four buildings at the plant had collapsed after the explosion.

The Tokyo Electric Power Co, the plant's operator, said several workers had been injured.

Cooling systems inside several reactors at both the Fukushima plants stopped working after Friday's earthquake cut the power supply.

Japan's nuclear agency said on Saturday that radioactive caesium and iodine had been detected near the number one reactor of the Fukushima 1 plant.

The agency said this may indicate that containers of uranium fuel inside the reactor may have begun melting.

Air has been released from several of the reactors at both plants in an effort to relieve the huge amount of pressure building up inside.

Mr Kan said the amount of radiation released was "tiny".

Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate the area near the plants. BBC correspondent Nick Ravenscroft said police stopped him 60km from the Fukushima 1 plant.

Analysts say a meltdown would not necessarily lead to a major disaster because light-water reactors would not explode even if they overheated.

[Bunkertor]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg4uogOEUrU&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

[Bunkertor]

Evacuation zone expanded to 20 km ( Reuters )

[StormingB81]

Japanese Gov't CONFIRMS RADIATION LEAK!!!

[StormingB81]

Some good news is tehre are ONLY 4 Tsunami warnings left all others have been changed to an advisory maybe this can start ending. I will be flying to Tokyo tomorrow trying to get to NC if my trip goes as planned I will give you updates when hopefully by Monday.


WE in Okinawa have been lifted of ALL warnings or advisories!

[Bunkertor]

German main news - Tagesschau - is reporting nuclear meltdown

( confirmed by Jap Government )



--> Message has been pulled.

[Chacor]

BBC disagrees:

"JAPAN QUAKE:

Explosion at Fukushima nuclear power plant not believed to have seriously damaged reactor itself, officials say"

[Chacor]

BBC:
1202: Government spokesman says the nuclear reactor container at the Fukushima-Daiichi plant has not been damaged, and the level of radiation has dropped following the explosion earlier on Saturday, AFP reports.

[Bunkertor]

Good find. Allright. Then we have to wait and see.

[StormingB81]

Even foxnews said there is radiation in the air from the expsion just dont know how much yet

[Chacor]

Very close shave:

1218: It seems clear now from Mr Edano's comments that the nuclear plant building that was blown apart earlier did house a reactor, but the reactor was protected by its metal casing.