Very high radiation in suppression chamber of No.1 reactor

 May 31, 2014

Probe detects high radiation at Fukushima reactor

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140531_13.html

The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is using a robot to map damage to the reactors to lesson radiation exposure for workers.

It says the robot has detected an extremely high level of radiation at a spot on a doughnut-shaped suppression chamber of reactor No.1.

The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, has been conducting the remote-controlled investigation into the basement which houses the chamber. The chamber makes up the lower part of the reactor.

Officials say the robot moved on a catwalk around the chamber and detected a spot that measures about 2,400 millisievert an hour.

They say the level is about 5 to 10 times higher than that in other areas around the chamber.

The operator's engineers suspect some material is emitting very strong radiation there and they are looking into the cause.

Earlier during Tuesday's probe of the basement, the robot located a hole at a pipe leading to reactor No. 1's containment vessel. It is believed to be a major source of leaks of contaminated water at the reactor.

May 31, 2014 - Updated 02:40 UTC