More signs of fuel rod damage at Japan nuke plant

[Fledermaus]

Bad things are happening when steam is coming out of whats left of the spent fuel pool.

TOKYO — Water in the spent fuel storage pool at the No. 4 reactor at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant has risen to about 194 degrees in one sign that spent fuel rods may be damaged, according to a report in NHK World.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company or TEPCO discovered Tuesday that the temperature was much higher than the normal level of about 104 degrees.

The finding is the latest setback for the utility company as it tries to contain damage at the nuclear plant, devastated by a March 11 tsunami and now rated on a par with the world's worst nuclear accident, the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. TEPCO said Wednesday it was still working on a detailed plan to end the country's nuclear crisis as tests showed radiation levels in the sea near the complex had spiked.

Engineers moved a step closer to emptying highly radioactive water from one of six crippled reactors, which would allow them to start repairing the cooling system crucial to regaining control of the plant.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42578432/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

[defendandprotect]

1. kr

[buddysmellgood]

2. Spent fuel in number 4 is the most frightening to me. That's

a lot of toxic shit that could go around the world if it catches fire.