Typhoon approaches Japan, may threaten nuclear plant

[FourScore]

Asia
Home > Breaking News > Asia > Story
May 29, 2011
Typhoon approaches Japan, may threaten nuclear plant



TOKYO - JAPAN'S crippled Fukushima nuclear plant is not fully prepared to deal with violent storms, officials admitted on Saturday, as the country braced for Typhoon Songda to hit.

The storm system was located about 30km south-west of Miyako-jima island, near Taiwan, as of 3.00pm (2pm Singapore time), the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The typhoon, packing gusts up to 216kmh near its centre, is moving north-east and could hit Tokyo as early as Monday, the agency said.

It is not yet clear whether it will move towards the Fukushima Daiichi plant, more than 200km north-east of the capital.

But the typhoon has already brought heavy rain to the Fukushima region, prompting worries that runoff water may wash away radioactive materials from land into the Pacific Ocean.

Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) has been pouring synthetic resins over the complex to prevent radioactive deposits from being swept away by winds or rain. A TEPCO spokesman said workers were mulling ways to continue their work even in storms. -- AFP

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_673818.html