Tokyo, May 20: Japanese workers have entered reactor No.3 of the damaged Fukushima power plant for the first time since twin disasters hit the station more than two months ago.
On March 11, a massive earthquake and an ensuing tsunami in Japan's northeastern coast set off a nuclear crisis by knocking out power to cooling systems of reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant and causing radiation leaks.
The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCP), has been struggling to stop radioactive leaks from the plant's damaged reactors.
Workers, wearing protective gear, began inspecting the reactor No.3, which was further damaged when a hydrogen explosion in March blew off the building's roof, TEPCO said on Thursday.
Following the twin disasters, Japan's government evacuated people living within a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) radius around the plant and told people residing between 20 kilometers and 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the plant to remain indoors.
Last week, Japan began widening the evacuation zone around the plant and transferred about 4,000 residents of Iidate-mura village and 1,100 people in Kawamata-cho town to public housing, hotels and other facilities in nearby cities.
Earlier in May, TEPCO said that new measurements indicate that water pumped into the pressure vessel had quickly leaked out from reactor No.1 building.
The company has also reported another spill of contaminated water despite efforts to stop spills into the Pacific Ocean.
Japan workers enter Fukushima reactor | Siasat
On March 11, a massive earthquake and an ensuing tsunami in Japan's northeastern coast set off a nuclear crisis by knocking out power to cooling systems of reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant and causing radiation leaks.
The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCP), has been struggling to stop radioactive leaks from the plant's damaged reactors.
Workers, wearing protective gear, began inspecting the reactor No.3, which was further damaged when a hydrogen explosion in March blew off the building's roof, TEPCO said on Thursday.
Following the twin disasters, Japan's government evacuated people living within a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) radius around the plant and told people residing between 20 kilometers and 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the plant to remain indoors.
Last week, Japan began widening the evacuation zone around the plant and transferred about 4,000 residents of Iidate-mura village and 1,100 people in Kawamata-cho town to public housing, hotels and other facilities in nearby cities.
Earlier in May, TEPCO said that new measurements indicate that water pumped into the pressure vessel had quickly leaked out from reactor No.1 building.
The company has also reported another spill of contaminated water despite efforts to stop spills into the Pacific Ocean.
Japan workers enter Fukushima reactor | Siasat
