7.1 Quake Hits Japan, Disrupting Fukushima Repairs

Experts have said that a big aftershock poses an additional risk to the Fukushima plant because its containment structures are filled with water that was used in the cooling efforts and is now highly radioactive. The strain from holding that water could make the structures even more vulnerable to rupture in the event of an earthquake… Now the depth of the quake is being estimated at 60 km, according to the meteorological officials briefing NHK. Earlier it was reported at a more shallow depth, 40 km. Meteorological officials are still urging people to be cautious even though tsunami alerts have officially been lifted, according to a briefing on NHK’s English live feed. Radiation levels at Fukushima are “within ordinary range” an operator says, via BBC Breaking News. 402 workers were at the Fukushima plant at the time of the quake, luckily no injuries were reported says NHK. Efforts to cool reactors 1, 2 and 3 at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are “continuing in a stable manner” according to NHK (via Reuters). All tsunami alerts and advisories have been lifted for northeast Japan reports NHK on its English language feed. CNN reports that workers were “evacuated” from the Fukushima nuclear facility. Unclear if that phrasing means something different from the NHK observation that workers had taken shelter (live English language feed). “The quake was strong enough to shake buildings in Tokyo, 265km to the south,” observes BBC News. A geophysicist quoted by CBS News says the quake struck “at about the same location and depth as the March 11 quake. It’s the strongest of the more than 1,000 aftershocks that have been felt since, except for a 7.9 aftershock that day. “Quake knocked out power from several nuke plants, which are now using emergency power, Tokyo-based nuclear safety agency tells @BreakingNews”Reuters flash reports “no irregularities” were found at the crippled Fukushima plant after the estimated 7.1 aftershock hit.

By: Teni Sow | Senior Editor at Tambapress.com and Regular Contributor to Presspresser.com

No related posts.

Tags: World

Category: World