99 replies to this topic

[Waser Lave]

http://www.theregist...anese_meltdown/

Updated The Japanese earthquake-induced nuclear emergency is growing worse by the hour.

After sustaining heavy damage to its cooling systems during Friday's megaquake, and after problems were encountered when damage mitigators attempted to release pressure that was building up in its reactors, Japan's Fukushima nuclear reactor may now be toying with emulating a 1970's potboiler. Athough information is still spotty, the No. 1 reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant may be beginning to melt down.

Japan's Kyodo News reported on Saturday afternoon, Japan time, in an article entitled "URGENT: Concerns of core partially melting at Fukushima nuke plant," that there are indications that a reactor core at Fukushima No. 1 is, indeed, beginning to melt down.

"The core at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's No. 1 reactor may be partially melting, the nuclear safety agency said Saturday," Kyodo News reports. "Radioactive substance cesium was detected around the reactor," they quoted that agency as admitting.

The Fukushima No. 1's reactor No. 1 is only one of five Japanese reactors reeling after the megaquake: three at Fukushima No. 1, two at Fukushima No. 2. ®

Update

Kyodo News has now reported that an "explosion was heard at 3:36 p.m. [Japan time] following large tremors and white smoke" at Fukushima No. 1's reactor No. 1.

"Four people have been injured in an explosion that occurred at the No. 1 reactor of the quake-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant," Kyodo News said they had been told by Tokyo Electric Power Company.

Not looking good...

[Sweeney]

They'll case it up if it's irredeemable. They know what they're doing.

[Waser Lave]

They'll case it up if it's irredeemable. They know what they're doing.

But what if a significant level of radiation leaks into Tokyo Bay? They'll have more than just a nuclear meltdown (or two) to contend with.

[Sweeney]

But what if a significant level of radiation leaks into Tokyo Bay? They'll have more than just a nuclear meltdown (or two) to contend with.

I don't know.

I am confident that the Japanese will have enough control of the situation to minimise the danger of any leaks. They built reactors virtually on top of a fault line - I'm damn sure they put some thought into that.

[iamlost26]

I don't know.

I am confident that the Japanese will have enough control of the situation to minimise the danger of any leaks. They built reactors virtually on top of a fault line - I'm damn sure they put some thought into that.

Like how the US/BP put so much thought into containing a large oil spill when they started drilling in the Gulf of Mexico? A lot of things are reactive these days, instead of proactive. I really hope that the Japanese can contain this, or things will definitely end poorly.

[Nunc]

The Japanese are intelligent. I don't doubt they'll contain this before Godzilla wakes up. They have a lot of experience in that field.

[ilovepolkadots]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/world/asia/13nuclear.html?_r=1&hp

Safety officials continued to insist that the levels of radiation were not large enough to threaten the health of people outside the plants, but they also told people living in the vicinity to cover their mouths and stay indoors.

(^) this was my favorite part
-.-

[Aurorae]

Safety officials continued to insist that the levels of radiation were not large enough to threaten the health of people outside the plants, but they also told people living in the vicinity to cover their mouths and stay indoors.

Wow :x
But they're intelligent people o: I hope they can handle it

[ilovepolkadots]

Wow :x
But they're intelligent people o: I hope they can handle it

the rest of the article is actually very interesting and may prove that they are not intelligent people
it seems that GE has not learned from their mistakes and these plants back up plans may only last for a few hours before becoming compromised...

[redlion]

Like how the US/BP put so much thought into containing a large oil spill when they started drilling in the Gulf of Mexico? A lot of things are reactive these days, instead of proactive. I really hope that the Japanese can contain this, or things will definitely end poorly.

Not the same situation, but I understand your sentiment.

BP was responsible - not the US. Would you blame San Francisco city council if there's a quake? That can't be controlled. But would you blame McDonalds for creating a toxic environment by putting Mercury in childrens toys? Different situation altogether when someone is trying to make money. They're liable.

I'm hoping no looters/exploitative people get their hands on nuclear materials. Explosions at power plants never end well...

[Ladida]

Alarmists. Speculation will only breed panic. No one knows what's going on, except the Japanese dealing with the situation. Japanese are used to earthquakes, so I'm pretty sure they would have taken this risk into account. Now they have to deal with it. It's just risk management.

[ShadowLink64]

It's not going to be anything like Chernobyl. It could potentially be something like Three Mile Island where a small amount of radiation was released, but Chernobyl was a completely different design and it didn't have a proper containment facility around the reactor to reduce any atmospheric release in case the reactor was breached.

This is definitely not good for PR as far as nuclear reactors go though. Japan was a good example of a country that (once) lived happily beside reactors.

http://www.theglobea...article1938199/

Two workers were reported missing at the Daiichi plant, but the company did not explain what might have happened to them.

What does that even mean? Did they get fired? Did they die? wtf? Way to go media, lol.

[Pyro699]

wtf?

Mutation

[Blackout]

This is the next Hurricane Katrina.....

[Nunc]

What does that even mean? Did they get fired? Did they die? wtf? Way to go media, lol.

Zombified.

[Abradix]

This is the next Hurricane Katrina.....

Isn't it more like Haiti?

Just saying...

[ilovepolkadots]

Isn't it more like Haiti?

Just saying...

i don't think they are talking about the type of natural disaster
but instead the way the situation is being handled
(ie. no one admitting it is as bad as it is until it blows up in everyone's face - like with Katrina)

[Junsu]

Can't the radiation spread to the US if there really is a meltdown? o__O

A bit offtopic but still:
http://tinyurl.com/beforenafterbb

Edited by Junsu, 13 March 2011 - 09:51 AM.

[Blackout]

Ehh this is more of that Indian Ocean Tsunami back in '04.

[Waser Lave]

Ehh this is more of that Indian Ocean Tsunami back in '04.

It's nowhere near the scale of that tsunami.

[Seaner]

Can't the radiation spread to the US if there really is a meltdown? o__O

A bit offtopic but still:
http://tinyurl.com/beforenafterbb

If radioactive particles were drawn far enough into the atmosphere, they could land on North American soil.

[Kat]

I'm wondering why this is anything like Hurricane Katrina, considering they had several days warning.. Japan did not. =/

And knowing what I know about radiation, it would not be a considerable enough amount to do anything, except maybe mutate a few reptiles and plants, if that.
Minute amounts of radiation slowly released would not be troublesome unless the amount increased exponentially and over a shorter period of time. I think they know what they are doing. It's no Chernobyl.

[Brennon]

Mutation

Fallout is starting to happen.
*pre-orders pip-boy

[Mr. Hobo]

Shoulda stayed in montreal

[iargue]

I don't know.

I am confident that the Japanese will have enough control of the situation to minimise the danger of any leaks. They built reactors virtually on top of a fault line - I'm damn sure they put some thought into that.

*Crosses Fingers and Prays to God they are more intelligent in Japanese government*

Although... they built a reactor on a fault line...

Safety officials continued to insist that the levels of radiation were not large enough to threaten the health of people outside the plants, but they also told people living in the vicinity to cover their mouths and stay indoors.

Cover your mouth to protect against Radiation. Now I am worries.

It's not going to be anything like Chernobyl. It could potentially be something like Three Mile Island where a small amount of radiation was released, but Chernobyl was a completely different design and it didn't have a proper containment facility around the reactor to reduce any atmospheric release in case the reactor was breached.

This is definitely not good for PR as far as nuclear reactors go though. Japan was a good example of a country that (once) lived happily beside reactors.

What does that even mean? Did they get fired? Did they die? wtf? Way to go media, lol.

The only problem is that as far as things go in America. No body knows anything that go on inside a Facility. Especially during cases of a lockdown. People have had to stay on the base for weeks at time because of either terrorist threats, or other various things. So no body would know what was going on. No way anyone would know what level the radiation was at except for the people inside of the facility. Unless they reported this to a higher official, who decides telling everyone the facility will explode is a good way to keep citizens calm.

Its media hype feeding on the fear of anything that has Nuclear in the name

Shoulda stayed in montreal

Based on were that information comes from. I don't trust it. :|