Japan may have lost race to save nuclear reactor

[HarveyDarkey]

The radioactive core in a reactor at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant appears to have melted through the bottom of its containment vessel and on to a concrete floor, experts say, raising fears of a major release of radiation at the site.

The warning follows an analysis by a leading US expert of radiation levels at the plant. Readings from reactor two at the site have been made public by the Japanese authorities and Tepco, the utility that operates it.

Richard Lahey, who was head of safety research for boiling-water reactors at General Electric when the company installed the units at Fukushima, told the Guardian workers at the site appeared to have "lost the race" to save the reactor, but said there was no danger of a Chernobyl-style catastrophe.

Workers have been pumping water into three reactors at the stricken plant in a desperate bid to keep the fuel rods from melting down, but the fuel is at least partially exposed in all the reactors.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/29/japan-lost-race-save-nuclear-reactor

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. Don't worry! Be happy! NOTHING to see here...move along.

:( Have you noticed not ONE MSM network is talking about this today? A Nuclear meltdown is being IGNORED. Ask yourself WHY?

[Auntie Bush]

2. G.E. would be mad at them?

tee hee

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. BINGO! Did you know?

GE made that Japanese reactor that's in meltdown? Yes, yes they did. That explains so much. :(

[2gabby]

6. Not on msm evening news I watched , I noticed too, it wasn't a good feeling. nt

[Raschel]

8. Yes, it's crazy.

[FirstLight]

3. sorry to say it, but

"just like Chernobyl"
the actual levels of radiation may not be revealed for decades
the time to act and deal with the crisis was within days
instead, we have weeks of this dragging on with bits and peices of information and no real progress because to do what needs to be done, evacuate and contain, would cause 'panic'

well, watch the panic level rise as more of this mess falls apart

the worst thing it the proximity to the ocean and the water table height, there's no way to clean that up...


but no, radiation isn't harmful or anything, right?

[2gabby]

4. on Common Dreams Worse Than Chernobyl': When the Fukushima Meltdown Hits Groundwater

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/03/29-6#
Worse Than Chernobyl': When the Fukushima Meltdown Hits Groundwater

the comments are pretty involved too

[PhillySane]

5. Yea, not like Chernobyl

just worse

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. MUCH worse. And they're covering it up.

:scared: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. scary. USA is sending robots to help