Fukushima Reactor Has a Hole, Leading to Leakage
One of the reactors at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant has a hole in its main vessel following a meltdown of fuel rods, leading to a leakage of radioactive water, its operator said on May 12, 2011. The disclosure by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) is the latest indication that the disaster was worse than previously disclosed, making it more difficult to stabilize the plant.
"If it is assumed the fuel did melt through the reactor, then the most likely solution is to encapsulate the entire unit. This may include constructing a concrete wall around the unit and building a protective cover over it," said W. Gene Corley, senior vice president of CTLGroup. "Because of the high radiation that would be present if this has happened, the construction will take many months and may stretch into years," Corley said.
The Reuters article appeared in several media outlets, including: CNBC, Scientific American, The Star Online and Solve Climate News.
Source: Reuters