Nuke plant spewing harmful radiation

Nuke plant spewing harmful radiation

Evacuated residents are checked for radiation exposure in Koriyama, Fukushima, northern Japan Tuesday, March 15 - Photo Credit: Kyodo NewsInternational scientists have said there are serious dangers but not at the level of the 1986 blast in Chernobyl.

Japanese authorities were injecting seawater as a coolant of last resort, and advising nearby residents to stay inside to avoid contamination.

The accidents - injuring 15 workers and military personnel and exposing up to 190 people to elevated radiation - have compounded the immense challenges faced by the Tokyo government as it struggles to help hundreds of thousands of people affected by twin disasters that flattened entire communities and may have left more than 10,000 dead.

The crisis also has raised global concerns about the safety of such reactors at a time when they have enjoyed a resurgence as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Japanese authorities said there have been no large-scale radiation releases, but have detected temporary elevations in levels, and have evacuated tens of thousands of people from around affected reactors.

Prevailing winds were pointing out to sea, and US ships assisting tsunami recovery moved further way to avoid potential danger.
Source: Agencies

Published Mar 15 2011