Create a free Manufacturing.net account to continue

New Probe Finds Worse Damage At Fukushima

The operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant says an endoscopic examination detected radiation levels up to 10 times the fatal dose.

TOKYO (AP) — A new probe at Japan's crippled nuclear power plant has found fatal radiation levels and hardly any cooling water inside one of the reactors, renewing concerns about the plant's stability.

The operator of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant says an endoscopic examination Tuesday detected radiation levels up to 10 times the fatal dose inside the No. 2 reactor's contain chamber, suggesting challenges ahead in shutting down the facility.

The probe also found the containment vessel had cooling water up to only about 60 centimeters (2 feet) from the bottom, far below the 10 meters (yards) estimated when the government declared the plant's stability in December.

Plant workers also reported fresh leaks of contaminated water from a water treatment unit, some flowing into the ocean.

More in Energy