Tens of thousands of residents near a nuclear plant in Japan were evacuated Saturday after an explosion at the plant, 240 kilometers north of Tokyo. The reactor failure follows a devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan on Friday.
Japanese officials have reassured the public, saying there is no danger of a meltdown of the reactor core. But US nuclear experts say they are worried about the possibility.
The failure at the plant in Fukushima Prefecture was caused by a power loss, and then a loss of backup power, following the massive earthquake and tsunami Friday.
A Japanese official said a buildup of hydrogen in the reactor's cooling system caused the explosion, but he said the containment structure was intact. Radiation was released, but government officials say the levels were low and are dropping.
Watch the explosion at reactor number one in Fukushima
Saturday, residents within 20 kilometers of the plant were evacuated, while government officials said there is no danger of a melt-down and large-scale radiation release, like the one at Chernobyl, Ukraine, in 1986 that sent radioactive clouds billowing across Europe.
The four American experts and a colleague in Japan briefed reporters by telephone Saturday, and they said they were less certain.
Nuclear energy analyst Robert Alvarez of the Institute for Policy Studies says there are many things we do not know about the failure, including whether the containment structure is fully intact. "The information that has been made public, particularly by the Japanese nuclear safety authorities, certainly indicate that radioactive elements from the fuel itself have escaped and entered the environment. And even if the reactor maintains its integrity, there's a possibility that things like open relief valves on the top of the reactor and things like that may still release large amounts of radioactivity," he said.
Ken Bergeron, a physicist who formerly worked for Sandia National Laboratories, says a so-called station blackout - which involves the loss of both off-site electricity and on-site backup power from diesel generators - is viewed in the nuclear industry as extremely unlikely. But he says it happened.
"So we're in uncharted territory. We're in the land where probability says we shouldn't be. And we're hoping that all of the barriers to release of radioactivity will not fail," he said.
He said the first barrier, the so-called fuel cladding that covers the reactor rods, has apparently failed, which he says is shown by the release of radiation into the atmosphere.
Crews are pumping a mixture of seawater and boron to cool the reactor, and these experts say it is essential to keep the water flowing for several days. Analyst Alvarez called the use of seawater a "Hail Mary pass", a term from American football meaning an act of desperation. But he said that with enough water pumped at sufficient volume and rate, the reactor can be stabilized.
Ken Bergeron said it is also crucial to restore electric power in order to pump enough water.
Ira Helfand of the group Physicians for Social Responsibility says the reactor contains huge levels of radioactivity that cannot be allowed to escape. "The bottom line is that we just don't know what's going to happen over the next couple of days. And frankly, neither do the people who are operating these power plants. They're very complex systems that are clearly way out of whack, and whether they're going to be able to contain the radiation inside the reactors or not, is simply not known at this point," he said.
Japanese health officials have announced they will distribute iodine tablets as a precaution. Iodine is know to protect against radiation-induced thyroid cancer.
There are some brave men and women working at those plants. I don't care if you are Christian, Muslim or athiest, say a prayer to their God. They need all the help they can get.
13-03-2011Gator (usa)
There are some brave men and women working at those plants. I don't care if you are Christian, Muslim or athiest, say a prayer to their God. They need all the help they can get.
13-03-2011Radiant Rollo (us)
Let's see...a reactor that produces electricity needs a back-up generator that won't start and relies on batteries that they can't recharge with a nuclear reactor that produces electricity. Depopulation.
13-03-2011
What if the reactor melts down? How far reaching would the radiation be in miles (kilometers) taking into consideration winds and their direction? Worst case scenario? Thanks
13-03-2011
Pray to God for help
13-03-2011Robert (USA)
Nuclear power is an essential element to continued growth and development of nations in the world. Clearly, though, our leaders and nuclear engineers MUST rethink issues of design and safety of nuclear power plants and should not assume that the worst case scenario cannot happen, because in Japan, the worst case clearly DID happen at the Fukushima Daiichi station. We need nuclear power. We do not need another Three Mile Island or Chernobyl.
13-03-2011(USA)
There is one God, Jehovah. Seek Him while He may be found. Isaiah 55:6
13-03-2011made in china ? (made in china ?)
Let's see...a reactor that produces electricity needs a back-up generator that won't start and relies on batteries that they can't recharge with a nuclear reactor that produces electricity. Depopulation
13-03-2011edward stevens (australia)
terrible tragedy now the nucleair prob.
13-03-2011Paul W. Dixon (U.S. A.)
Cordially, It may be time to recognize that we have not gained sufficient maturity to sensibly work with radiative material. When asked whether a student was mature enough to work with a nuclear engine, my response ther was no one who was mature eought to do so. The alternative is we may die a long term painful death with our overestimate of our maturity level. Bon Chance, mes Amis
13-03-2011
@Radiant Rollo They did just have a rather large earthquake that disrupted electricity supplies, which caused an automatic shut down of all the reactors and strangely enough results in no power. Or did you miss that point in the widespread coverage being given over the last 36 hours or so?
13-03-2011anonymous (canada)
again one of the proofs that humans do not fully control nuclear energy. Nuclear power plants around the globe should be dismantled ASAP. The worst nuclear contaminations have been caused by plants, not a bombs.
13-03-2011
GOD IF YOU WON'T HELP US WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST LEAVE US ALONE?
13-03-2011D.R. PILLAI (INDIA)
Japanese are brave, God fearing, confidents and optimistic. Let the entire world pray for thier sound health and extend love and kindness from all walks of life
13-03-2011paula (U.S.)
My thoughts are with the Japanese. What a terrible series of tragedies. Any one would be devastating by itself, but they're getting slammed with a brutal quake, a deadly tsunami, and now a possible nuclear reactor meltdown. Unbelievable. My heart goes out to them.
13-03-2011
Back up generators are safety measures...the problem is when idiots build in an area with the highest susceptibility to earthquakes...brilliant
13-03-2011rogue 4 from florida (u.s.a)
the u.s re-built japan once before. we can help do it again
13-03-2011
Is this one of the plants that has reduced the number of operators in order to boost profits for the corporation.
13-03-2011leam (china)
We are at our best as humans when we face such horrific events, we will learn & grow from this.
13-03-2011
"the so-called fuel cladding what covers the reactor rods, has apparently failed" Nice english. Please try harder.
13-03-2011Dr. Doom
Why do we build nuke plant is such highly risky sismic area. Even if such large quakes do not happen everyday, they have to happen one day or another in these unstable areas. The risk of contamination is not just Japan but much larger. No lessons were learned from Tchernobyl really.
13-03-2011Kalven Goreal (USA)
Depopulation isn't the answer. If we had better technology we could overcome these challenges. But we have too many Radiant Rollo's stuck in the mud trying to kill of society instead of solving the problem.
13-03-2011Under the Bridge
Gator, I'm not sure if you understand what the word athiest means, but your heart is in the right place. Radiant Rollo, you are a moron.
13-03-2011Sylvain (Canada)
Why the Japanese Gov. doesn't ask the Aliens to help them cool down the nuclear power plants? (not joking) Stop the Lies save Lives
13-03-2011andres (usA)
My prayer goes out to all. god bless.
13-03-2011Ray (USA)
Strange as it may seem US nuclear submarines could provide an immediate source of more than adequate power. Just pull them up along the coast and hook them into the plant's power system. Such a scenario was considered 20+ years ago when the island of Kauai was without power after a hurricane.
13-03-2011oops!
we are all in deep then? What way is the fallout directed via the wind? who is first in line? can we get a view of a weather pattern to see potential outfall please as soon as possible?
13-03-2011George Jacob (USA)
Psalm 147 promisies"He heals the broker Hearted and binds their wounds" (v.3). Let us call upon God to Heal us. I pray enerybody in Japan to have the courage to face this difficult time.
13-03-2011Mike (USA)
If the tsunami wipes out your backup generators, then batteries aren't going to help you. In the future, they will probably require concrete sealed vaults around the generators with closable air intakes and exhausts; maybe they'll be fitted with float valves as they are on ships.
13-03-2011
You can instantly translate your chat in real-time to your Japanese friends in their native language. Go to ortsbo.com, it is free. Ortsbo will attach to any of the major social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, QQ ect... and translate your chat to their native language in real-time. As well, their response will be translated to your language in real-time. Very easy to use, transparent and cost nothing.
13-03-2011ET (USA)
Hey, these people know how to deal with nuclear radiation.
13-03-2011Operator (USA)
If the engineers that build these things had to account for every possibility of disaster nothing would ever get approved or built, and we would still have a whole lot of coal plants floating around out there. And the reactor does not make electricity, it is the heat source that makes the steam which turns the turbines which make electricity.
13-03-2011Poppy
Two unprecedented disasters, the US Gulf oil "spill" and now this - with the potential to poison the ocean as well as the land and its people - all in the name of endless energy to power our civilization. My heart goes out to all who are paying such a big price so I can send this comment.
13-03-2011
i hope we get through this because the world doesn't need another disaster and tons of thousands of people could die so come on ocean please work
13-03-2011Y (UK)
Japanese (who are there on-site) say "big trouble, but pretty much under control". Americans (sitting in the US) say "hmm we're not so sure, we think you don't know what you're doing and not telling us everything, there could be a meltdown". Either this article is badly written or these 'experts' are being a bit arrogant about all this. I'm no nuclear expert, but it seems some of them are giving their expert opinion on something about which they have no current knowledge.
13-03-2011Future Aglow (USA)
"History shows again and again how nature points out the fooly of ma-aaaaaaan! Godzilla!"
13-03-2011Buzzro (Australia)
what the hell is "way of whack"?
13-03-2011Heath (Canada)
Had the same thoughts as Radiant Rollo as far as back up systems go. No real back up in a Nuke reactor? In Japan? something doesn't sound right here- is the efficiency that is a Japanese "trademark" all propaganda? I urge every Nuke facility on the planet to immediately review protocols regarding the need for back up power sources.
13-03-2011Pat O'Connell (Canada)
Three levels of "failsafe" have failed. We most certainly cannot believe any more experts that nuclear energy is safe. Why must we destroy ourselves with this source of energy when every element of the earth around us is abundant in energy?
13-03-2011
Wow. It's may melt down.... hope not.
13-03-2011Thunder Horse (Uk)
The reactors are shut down so their not producing any electricity, but there are still residual thermal reactions going on that need to be controlled. I dont know how there getting the water into the reactors heat exchangers without the pumps working. the primary water circuit is usualy sealed to stop radioactive water from escaping. I can only hope the Brave people who are battling to get the reactor temprature down stay safe and well, my prayers are with them.
13-03-2011Monty (Can.)
[Quote:]"Gator (usa) There are some brave men and women working at those plants. I don't care if you are Christian, Muslim or athiest, say a prayer to their God. They need all the help they can get." Agreed. On the other had knowing a tsunami would be in result of such a large quake they would have foreseen this possibility. Maybe a backup Generator for the backup Generator? When it comes to atomic energy and all the dangers, no precaution should be too great to take.
13-03-2011David Oaks (USA)
In the recent BP oil spill, those experts also reassured the public such a disaster was nearly impossible... Until the disaster was in everyone's face.
13-03-2011Bijon shah (India)
Natures way of saying "ban use of nuclear energy"
13-03-2011Itchy (Australia)
A spokesman from the Japanese government said that it wasn't actually a explosion and that, "the walls of the reactor just fell down," if that's what happens when the "wall fall down," hate to see it if it blew up. .
13-03-2011sundar (India)
The world should think of alternate sources of energy. Or we should have nuclear reactors built in seismically safe areas and sell the power to countries like Japan, similar to the oil producing countries.
13-03-2011Ben (Canada)
Nuclear plants are a ticking time bomb just waiting for the right conditions to arise. We should have more safeguards in place for situations like this. Also more studies should be done go make sure plants are not built in or on earthquake zones and faults. We need to make sure that we are all ready for worst case scenarios. I hope everyone there gets the situation under control soon. I wish them luck and divine/spiritual guidance in their time of need.
13-03-2011
Right about Depopulation. Should start IN the USA. And by the way! You got water and food stored up for a BAD situation? Bet not! Katrina proved that alot of people in the US are not prepared and Hey If you are waiting for Uncle SAM, then that would be the American TAX Payers! What happened in Japan was not a normal. Think if something happened that was not normal here! 9/11 was man made. This was Mother Earth Or God
13-03-2011Elango (India)
It is time for sincere prayer, I hope surely the Japanese people will be saved from this nuclear disaster. Please God have mercy on us, you are full 0of MERCY. Thank you...
13-03-2011khader khan (india)
i pray to Allah,give the strength to those men working in nuclear reactor, Allah help the people of japan to over come this disaster.
13-03-2011west coast resident (usa)
pray they keep it contained we're downwind
13-03-2011Chris (Canada)
Amen, Gator.
13-03-2011
Yes, water circulation, but of the control rods that are used to stop the reaction, did they fail?
13-03-2011Dan (Australia)
Why worry now? They should have worried when these plants were built, especially in earthquake prone places like Japan, where something with uncontrollable consequences like this is almost bound to happen. There are scores of these around Japan.
13-03-2011d a raju (india)
It is very unfortunate situation, I suggest that be a positive mind set to hold near and around reactor area. People dont accept bruits.
13-03-2011Crocodile (usa)
Wonder what all these Gods do with these prayers. In many religions Gods are the creators of Earth. What do they think if we produce and amass poisonous material, on top of that in areas which we know are seismically active, and by that are about to destroy these God's Creation - along with all the other destructive human activities - and THEN ASK THEM FOR THEIR HELP. Funny.
13-03-2011Adrian (Australia)
Where is all the water going after it's been past the radioactive fuel rods?
13-03-2011alaskan1st (Alaska)
You can't use electricity from a reactor to run the pumps that cool the same reactor. If one fails the other does too. Basic enough.
13-03-2011
The nuclear reactor cannot produce power to do anything let alone recharge the battery banks to power the coolant pumps because it is shutdown. Do not think that this plant was built without a huge amount of safety barriers that right now are helping to prevent a major nuclear failure. It's amazing that only one of the reactor units are in trouble after an earthquake and tsunami of that size.
13-03-2011
what is so complex about changing the diesel generators? Obviously the mass media motto is: better to print hasty clueless stuff than to wait report-less and to look for the truth.
13-03-2011kyle (texas)
Who builds a nuclear power plant on the coast of a nation that is very prone to tsunami's? seems it would be cheaper to pump cooling water a little further inland than have to deal with what they have going on right now.
13-03-2011G.. (Eire.)
We all think we have problems., work around them folks...2 c that on tv is devastating.. live ur life 2 the full.xxx
13-03-2011Big D (USA)
Why can't they fly in some big generators and already with up gas in them an hook them up drop off twenty at each plant and hook in to the cities water supply plus put water towers above that won't come down in case of another earth quake or tsunami .for backup.
13-03-2011ATHIQUR RAHMAN (INDIA)
MAY ALMIGHTY PROTECT THEM AND HELP THEM TO STABILIZE THE REACTOR. WE ALL PRAYING. KEEP PRAYING. WHATEVER HAPPENS IT IS OF DESTINY!!! ONLY THING MAY CHANGE THE DESTINY IS SUPPLICATION (DUA)
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