Japan Nuclear Crisis: Reactors Have Damaged Fuel Rods

Japan Nuclear Crisis: Reactors Have Damaged Fuel Rods

Contaminated Water Extends at Least a Mile Into the Ocean Near the Plant, Officials Say



By NEAL KARLINSKY, KEVIN DOLAK and LEEZEL TANGLAO



March 28, 2011

As radiation in seawater near the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] increases, Japanese officials said the reactors have damaged fuel rods and may be in partial meltdown.


In a newly released video, smoke can be seen billowing from reactors two
and three — the only visible sign of the catastrophe happening inside.

On Monday, workers continued to pump out radioactive water inside the
plant, according to the Associated Press. Officials said the
contaminated water must be taken out before workers can restart and
restore the plant's cooling system.

Radioactive water has been found in all four of the reactors at the plant.

The news comes a day after officials apologized for an inaccurate
reading of a major increase in radioactivity which caused a panic that
led workers to flee the plant. The inaccurate reading was confirmed as a
mistake Sunday night by operators at the plant.

"The number is not credible," said Tokyo Electric Power Company spokesman Takashi Kurita. "We are very sorry."

The mistake prompted harsh criticism from the government.

"Such a mistake is not something that should be forgiven or acceptable," said government spokesman Yukio Edano.

ABC News went to the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company to ask
Kurita about the latest in a number of conflicting reports coming from
the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

"We are so sorry to inconvenience everybody," he told ABC News. "We are
trying to stabilize the situation. We are trying to give out the most
accurate information."

Asked why more help has not been brought in, his response was
surprising.

"I agree with you actually, but we are doing our best but at the same
time the government and also many companies are economists and defense
force and fire department, all sorts of people have been supporting us
to calm down the situation," said Kurita.
Radioactive Water May Be Leaking Into Ocean


Hidehiko Nishiyama, a spokesman for the Nuclear and Industrial Safety
Agency, told reporters that radioactive water may be leaking into the
ocean.

New radiation readings indicate that the contamination in the ocean has
spread to about a mile north of the plant, the Associated Press
reported.

On Sunday evening, Nishiyama acknowledged the challenges that are facing the relief effort but insisted is stabilizing.

"The problem is that right now nobody can reach the turbine houses where
key electrical work must be done. There is a possibility that we may
have to give up on that plan," he said.

Meanwhile, experts at Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said
that the radioactive materials could be leaking directly from the
reactor core, which would indicate a breach.

Physicist Michio Kaku said if radiation levels get too high, that's the point of no return.

ABC News' Molly Hunter, David Wright and The Associated Press contributed to this report



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