Earthquake or tsunami?

May 29, 2013

New probe into Fukushima accident launched

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130530_08.html

Japan's nuclear regulators are launching a new probe into the causes of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident 2 years after it occurred.

The government, Diet and an independent panel have already compiled accident reports. Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. has also finished its own probe. But experts say many questions have been left unanswered.

5 officials from the Nuclear Regulation Authority will enter the plant's No. 1 reactor building to try to clear up one of the key questions.

The authority wants to know if the March 11 earthquake damaged the reactor's cooling system before the arrival of a massive tsunami.

The Diet's investigation panel suggested that the quake had first damaged the system.

The officials will check the 4th floor of the building, where utility workers witnessed water leaking near a reactor cooling system immediately after the earthquake hit.

TEPCO says the leaked water originated from a fuel pool that leaked into the building's air-conditioning system so the officials also plan to check the system.

High radiation will limit the visit to just over 10 minutes.

The Authority will discuss the findings at its next meeting in June. The findings will be used to determine safety strategies at nuclear plants.