On-site investigation

February 27, 2015

Fukushima officials conduct on-site probe at crippled plant

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150227p2g00m0dm070000c.html

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Officials from Fukushima Prefecture, including nuclear experts, conducted an on-site investigation at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi complex on Friday, following the recent revelation of another toxic water leakage into the Pacific Ocean.

The move follows Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s announcement Tuesday that highly radioactive rainwater accumulating on the rooftop of a reactor building has flowed into the adjacent sea through a gutter.

TEPCO has been aware since last April that radiation levels in the gutter rise every time it rains, but did not disclose the data for 10 months.

The officials are expected to look at the gutter and around the No. 2 reactor building where the contaminated rainwater was found.

Trade, Economy and Industry Minister Yoichi Miyazawa said at a press conference Friday that the government "may have been a little bit careless" in failing to oversee TEPCO properly on this issue.

Fishermen in Fukushima met with Miyazawa the same day and called for a "radical review of measures against radioactive water," saying that "the anger among local fishery operators is immeasurable."

Fukushima investigates radioactive water leakage

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150227_47.html

Feb. 27, 2015 - Updated 12:32 UTC+1

Experts and officials sent by Fukushima Prefecture have made an on-site investigation into the flow of radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant into the sea.

Tokyo Electric Power Company said on Tuesday that radioactive water that had accumulated on the roof of the No. 2 reactor building had spilled into the sea outside the plant's port.

20 members from a panel of experts and local government officials entered the plant compound on Friday.

Utility officials explained the underground drainage channel in question.

The panel members checked another channel through which tainted water is believed to have flowed into the port on Sunday.

They examined equipment that shows levels of radioactive substances and viewed gates to prevent outflow into the sea.

On Friday the utility started piling sandbags containing chemicals to absorb radioactive substances.

The company says it plans to introduce pumps in March to prevent contaminated water from flowing into the sea outside the port.

The panel members urged the utility to investigate whether the roofs of other reactor buildings are the sources of tainted water. They also asked the company to step up its surveillance of drainage channels and seawater.