Japan faces grave nuclear threat following radiation leak

Radiations were released into the atmosphere from an incapacitated nuclear plant in tsunami-affected northeastern Japan, after a third reactor was shaken by a blast and a fourth caught fire, says the report.

After the 9.0-magnitude earthquake on Friday, and the following destructive tsunami, four reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Fukushima province have started releasing radiations, stated Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

Kan said, “The level seems very high, and there is still a very high risk of more radiation coming out. We are making utmost efforts to prevent further explosions and radiation leaks.”

The nuclear disaster
Since the fatal Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic explosions in World War II, Japan has never faced such a grave nuclear threat.

People have been warned to stay indoors and specially within 19 miles (30 kilometers) of the Fukushima Dai-ichi complex, to refrain the sickness caused due to radiation as there are possibilities of more leaks.

Around 70,000 people have been removed from a 12-mile (20-kilometer) radius, while there are still 140,000 people remaining in the area announced to be risky.

According to Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yukio Edano, after the devastating quake on Friday, three reactors at the power plant lost their capability of cooling. Moreover, they were elevating the radiation level.

The fourth reactor caught fire on Tuesday. However, the fire was extinguished somehow.

Possible reasons
The fourth reactor was inoperative, but still it discharged hydrogen which triggered the fire, and ultimately all these ended up elevating the radiation release.

“It is likely that the level of radiation increased sharply due to a fire at Unit 4. 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,” said Edano.

The containment building of one of the reactors was set on fire on Monday, because of the explosions.

But, Edano said that this reactor did not add to the raised radiation, to a great extent. Another reactor has started radiating at 400,000 microsiverts per hour, which is around four times higher than the safe radiation level.

“Please do not go outside. Please stay indoors. Please close windows and make your homes airtight. Don’t turn on ventilators. Please hang your laundry indoors,” he requested.

While 50 workers were desperately trying to cool the reactors with the help of waters, nearly 800 employees were made to escape.

15 employers and military personnel have been injured by the successive ignitions and blazes at the reactors, and 190 people were endangered by the elevated radiation, informed officials.