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发帖数: 50662 | 1 http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/wirral-news/uk-world-news/2011/03/1
Radiation leak at Japanese reactor
Radiation is leaking from a crippled nuclear power plant in tsunami-ravaged
northeastern Japan in a dramatic escalation of the four-day-old catastrophe,
forcing the government to tell people nearby to stay indoors to avoid
exposure.
In a nationally televised statement, Japanese prime minister Naoto Kan said
radiation has spread from four reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear
plant in Fukushima province that was one of the hardest-hit in Friday's 9.0-
magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami.
"The level seems very high, and there is still a very high risk of more
radiation coming out," Mr Kan said.
This is the worst nuclear crisis Japan has faced since the atomic bombing of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War.
Mr Kan warned there are dangers of more leaks and told people living within
19 miles of the Fukushima Dai-ichi complex to stay indoors to avoid
radiation sickness.
Chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano said a fourth reactor at the complex was
on fire and more radiation had been released. He said the reactor, even
though it was not operational, was believed to be the source of the elevated
radiation release because of the hydrogen release that triggered the fire.
"Now we are talking about levels that can damage human health. These are
readings taken near the area where we believe the releases are happening.
Far away, the levels should be lower," he said. "Please do not go outside.
Please stay indoors. Please close windows and make your homes airtight. Don'
t turn on ventilators. Please hang on your laundry indoors," he added. "
These are figures that potentially affect health, there is no mistake about
that."
He said a reactor whose containment building caught fire on Monday has not
contributed greatly to the increased radiation. The radiation level around
one of the reactors stood at 400,000 microsiverts per hour, four times
higher than the safe level.
Officials said 50 workers are still there trying to inject water into the
reactors to cool them. They say 800 other non-essential staff were evacuated.
The death toll from last week's earthquake and tsunami rose as police
confirmed the number killed had topped 2,400, though that grim news was
overshadowed by a deepening nuclear crisis. Officials have said previously
that at least 10,000 people may have died in Miyagi province alone. |
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