“A recent probe has uncovered a significant leak of radioactive water at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, raising concerns but confirming that the contamination remains contained”
In a startling revelation, a robot survey has detected approximately 25 tons of radioactive water leaking from Reactor No. 2 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Fortunately, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plant’s operator, reassured the public that this water has not escaped into the environment but has instead flowed into the basement of the facility.
The leak was first suspected when officials observed an unusual drop in water levels within one of the control tanks designed for cooling the nuclear fuel. To investigate further, authorities deployed a robot into the building, which confirmed that the water was indeed leaking through the drainage system and pooling in the basement, as reported by Interesting Engineering on August 14.
TEPCO has since halted the pumping of water into the cooling pool and indicated that the incident has not caused the fuel to exceed a critical temperature of 65 degrees Celsius. The company plans to conduct a more thorough inspection of Reactor No. 2 using the robot to assess the situation.
Earlier this year, in February 2024, TEPCO reported a smaller radioactive water leak of about 5.5 tons, which affected an area measuring 4 by 4 meters. The plant has been under scrutiny since it began releasing treated water into the ocean in August 2023. On August 9, 2024, TEPCO also announced that equipment related to the spent fuel pool of Reactor No. 2 had malfunctioned, prompting a temporary suspension of the cooling system while investigations were conducted.
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered catastrophic damage following a magnitude 9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 11, 2011. This dual disaster resulted in extensive devastation across northeastern Japan and led to the Fukushima incident being classified as a Level 7 event on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale, marking it as the most severe nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. The release of radioactive materials forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents, leaving a lasting impact on the region.
