Earthquake-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant triggers evacuation

Friday, March 11, 2011

Fukushima Daiichi power plant
Image: KEI.

Japan's government has declared its first ever "nuclear emergency" after pressure rises in the No. 1 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, combined with a minor radiation leak, caused a 10 km radius around the plant to be evacuated. An attempt to relieve the pressure inside the containment vessels of the plant has been delayed.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company's 40-year old nuclear facility, 270 km NE of Tokyo, reported mechanical difficulties with its cooling system, although the automated shutdown systems worked correctly. With the core reaction shut down the plant is no longer actively generating heat, but the fuel rods continue to generate excess heat and radiation and need constant cooling.

The cooling system runs a constant flow of water to take the heat away from the submerged fuel rods, but the pumping system requires electricity to operate even after the plant is no longer producing electricity itself—generally from back-up diesel or natural gas generators.

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Sister links

2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami

Fukushima I nuclear accident

Sources

Douglas Stanglin. "Japan to release slightly radioactive vapor at disabled reactor" — USA Today, March 11, 2011
Matthew L. Wald. "Emergency Declared at Japanese Nuclear Plant" — New York Times, March 11, 2011
"Pressure rises in damaged Japanese nuclear reactor" — Globe and Mail, March 11, 2011
"Live updates: Japan quake and tsunami" — TVNZ TV One, March 11, 2011
"Evacuation advisory expansion" — NHKWorld, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai, March 11th, 2011

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