What Are Tsunamis

Tepco's Fukushima Nuclear Plant May Have Leaked Radiation Before Tsunami

A radiation alarm went off at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima nuclear power plant before the tsunami hit on March 11, suggesting that contrary to earlier assumptions the reactors were damaged by the earthquake that spawned the wall of water.

A monitoring post on the perimeter of the plant about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the No. 1 reactor went off at 3:29 p.m., minutes before the station was overwhelmed by the tsunami that knocked out backup power that kept reactor cooling systems running, according to documents supplied by the company. The monitor was set to go off at high levels of radiation, an official said.

“We are still investigating whether the monitoring post was working properly,” said Teruaki Kobayashi, the company’s head of nuclear facility management. “There is a possibility that radiation leaked before the tsunami arrived.” Kobayashi said he didn’t have the exact radiation reading that would trigger the sensor.

Officials at the company, known as Tepco, had earlier said the plant stood up to the magnitude-9 quake and was crippled by the tsunami that followed, causing the world’s worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986. The early radiation alarm has implications for other reactors in Japan, one of the most earthquake prone countries in the world, because safety upgrades ordered by the government since March 11 have focused on the threat from tsunamis.

Many scientists have considered the possibility of damage to Fukushima reactors from the quake, said Tetsuo Ito, head of the Atomic Energy Research Institute at Kinki University in western Japan. “Utilities should reinforce safety measures at nuclear power plants , particularly ones housing old reactors like the Fukushima station."

The company’s shares fell 8 percent today to 358 yen. They’ve fallen 83 percent since the disaster. The cost of protecting the Tepco’s debt from default rose to a record today, according to data provider CMA.

Tepco this week released thousands of pages of documents that highlight the chaos in the early hours of the disaster as workers frantically tried to prevent meltdowns in three of six reactors at Fukushima. They included pictures of whiteboards with scribbled notes of times and events.

Among the documents, the pressure and water level inside of No. 1 reactor inner vessel fluctuated after the earthquake hit at 2:46 p.m. Most of the readings for the No. 1 reactor go blank a little after 3:30 p.m. when the waves swamped the plant.

Taiwan | Piracy and tsunamis add to sailors' woes. Author ...

It seems strange that international forces can act very quickly and strike somewhat effectively against Libya strongman Moammar Gaddafi , but similar military actions cannot wipe out rampant piracy in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

The problem regarding Somali pirates is a political and complicated one. It will only be solved after the civil war ends and the creation of a stable government, according to Father Bruno Ciceri, the Rome-based international director of the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS).

Governments or international organizations consider their own political interests first when solving problems overseas, he said.

Oil and gas have high priority, “but unfortunately, Somalia has neither of these to offer,” he added.

Until a solution is found, the Italian priest is urging the international community to “take appropriate and effective action” with its military presence in that part of the world to protect seafarers.

The AOS of East and Southeast Asia regions made the same appeal in its second regional meeting that concluded in central Taiwan recently.

It chose “piracy” as its main topic since tens of thousands of wives and children in the East and Southeast Asia regions are concerned about their seafaring husbands or fathers, who work under the constant threat of piracy.

The delegates discussed several topics related to the piracy theme, such as: attacks by pirates; ship owners’ responses; piracy and hostages; and how to assist hostages and their families.

According to international NGO figures, there are 1.37 million seafarers around the world. Of the 10 AOS member countries in the East and Southeast Asia region, the Philippines has the largest number with at least 3,000-4,000 seafarers.

Ecoterra International, an organization which monitors piracy, reported that Somali pirates were holding at least 35 ships and more than 650 hostages as of mid-December.

Unofficial figures reveal that 2009 was the most active year for Somali pirates with more than 200 attacks, in which 68 ships were taken. Ransoms paid out were believed to total more than US$50 million.

The AOS is very concerned about the region’s seafarers and their families because “we know through our counseling and other efforts related to this subject that piracy and hijacking are very painful experiences, which can cause damaging and lasting effects on the hostages and their families,” Father Ciceri said.

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