VIDEO Radioactive water is leaking into the sea from a 20-centimetre (8-inch) crack

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Radioactive water is leaking into the sea from a 20-centimetre (8-inch) crack in a containment pit at Japan's quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant, its operator Tepco has said.
The crack under reactor 2 may be the source of recent radiation in coastal waters, Tepco officials said.
Tepco is preparing to pour concrete into the pit to try to stop the leak.
Japanese PM Naoto Kan has been visiting the area of north-eastern Japan worst affected by last month's tsunami.
Hidehiko Nishiyama, deputy director-general of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, told a news conference Tepco was planning to pour concrete into the pit to seal the crack.
"With radiation levels rising in the seawater near the plant, we have been trying to confirm the reason why, and in that context, this could be one source," Mr Nishiyama said.
"There could be other similar cracks in the area, and we must find them as quickly as possible."
Tepco (Tokyo Electric Power Co) had earlier said it suspected radioactive material was escaping continuously from the plant, but they had not until now found the leak.
BBC News - Radioactive water from Japan nuclear plant leaks in sea

 

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Radioactive Water from Japan Nuclear Plant Leaks into Sea In a significant environmental incident, radioactive water has been reported leaking into the sea from a 20-centimetre (8-inch) crack in a containment pit at Japan's earthquake-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant. This crucial revelation comes from the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), which has indicated that the crack beneath reactor 2 may be contributing to rising radiation levels in nearby coastal waters. To mitigate the situation, Tepco is preparing to pour concrete into the affected pit in an attempt to seal the leak. This incident has prompted Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan to visit the site, where he has been actively assessing the impact of the recent tsunami that severely affected the region. Hidehiko Nishiyama, the deputy director-general of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, highlighted during a recent press conference that they are urgently investigating other potential cracks in the vicinity, as this could be just one of multiple issues plaguing the area. Previously, Tepco had suspected ongoing radioactive material escape from the plant without pinpointing its source until now. Initial measurements showed alarming radiation levels exceeding 1,000 millisieverts per hour in the water around the pit. The urgency of sealing this leak cannot be emphasized enough, with the Tokyo-based BBC correspondent Rachel Harvey noting that discovering the source is a positive development amidst the ongoing crisis. However, the challenges ahead include not only sealing this opening but also ensuring there are no further leaks and removing any contaminated liquids. As the situation unfolds, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu reported that approximately 70% of one reactor core had suffered severe damage. This assessment reflects ongoing difficulties in evaluating the reactors due to high radiation levels obstructing close inspections. While Tepco proceeds with its containment efforts, a massive search operation continues for those missing from the tsunami, with over 11,500 confirmed dead and nearly 16,500 missing. Various military and rescue personnel are engaged in the search, although radiation fears prohibit rescues within the 20-km exclusion zone surrounding the Fukushima plant. This incident not only raises concerns for the immediate area but also has broader implications on environmental safety and nuclear power management in the wake of disasters. Discussion Points:

• What are your thoughts on the long-term environmental impact of this leakage?
• How effective do you think Tepco's containment efforts will be?
• Have you followed nuclear safety measures since this incident? Feel free to share your insights or related experiences!