Japan: Fuel pool water overflows at a nuclear power plant!

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Japan: Fuel pool water overflows at a nuclear power plant!

Japan experiences another strong earthquake and fuel pool water overflows at a nuclear power plant!

The Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported that around 11:03 p.m. local time on January 1, another earthquake with a seismic intensity of 7 (the highest level in the 10-level seismic intensity set by the Japan Meteorological Agency) occurred in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.

Subsequently, NHK corrected the report, stating that the seismic intensity of the earthquake in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture around 11:03 p.m. on January 1 was 3, with a magnitude of 4.6.

Earlier, at 4:10 p.m. local time on January 1, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of western Honshu, Japan, with a depth of 30 kilometers, located at 37.50 degrees north latitude and 137.20 degrees east longitude. It is reported that the earthquake triggered a 5-meter tsunami.

The Japan Meteorological Agency held an emergency press conference at 6:10 p.m. local time on January 1, once again urging residents in tsunami warning areas to evacuate immediately and advising residents in earthquake-prone areas to be aware of the possibility of another seismic intensity 7 earthquake in the coming week, especially in the next two to three days.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated on the evening of January 1 that he has ordered the Self-Defense Forces, police, firefighters, and other departments to quickly reach the disaster area for rescue efforts.

Water overflows at a Japanese nuclear power plant:

Citing a report from the Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo Electric Power Company announced that, due to the earthquake on January 1, the cooling water in the fuel pool at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station in Niigata Prefecture overflowed. The report stated that there was no evidence of water leaking outside the nuclear reactor building, and no damage was reported.

According to Tokyo Electric Power Company, during an inspection around 6 p.m. local time, approximately 10 liters of water overflowed from Unit 2, 0.46 liters from Unit 3, 600 liters from Unit 6, and 4 liters from Unit 7. This water contains radioactive substances, and its radioactive levels are currently being tested.

According to Fuji News Network, the Ishikawa Shika Nuclear Power Station also experienced the overflow of cooling water in the fuel pool due to the earthquake. However, it is claimed that this has not affected the cooling of the fuel. According to the readings, there is also no impact on the external environment.

In response to the earthquake that occurred in Ishikawa Prefecture on the 1st, Hokuriku Electric Power Company held a press conference in Kanazawa City on the morning of the 2nd, stating that the Shiga Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 (in Shiga Town, Ishikawa Prefecture) are being used to cool down spent nuclear fuel due to the shaking of the earthquake. Although the pool overflowed, no damage that would pose a safety issue has been confirmed. Both Units 1 and 2 are currently shut down due to periodic inspections, and there is no evidence of radioactivity affecting the outside world. [Hiroko Tanaka]

Japan experiences another strong earthquake and fuel pool water overflows at a nuclear power plant!