Post date: Mar 26, 2011 1:4:23 PM
The Japanese government says it will enhance monitoring of radiation levels in seawater near the Fukushima nuclear plant, and presses the operator to provide swifter information.
TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 26, 2011) TV TOKYO - Radioactivity levels are soaring in seawater near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant, the Japanese government said on Saturday (March 26) two weeks after the nuclear power plant was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami.
Even as engineers tried to pump puddles of radioactive water from the power plant 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo, Japan's nuclear safety agency said tests on Friday (March 25) showed radioactive iodine had spiked 1,250 times higher than normal in the seawater just offshore the plant.Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the government will enhance monitoring of radiation levels in seawater near the plant.
"Obviously from now on, we will have to expand and strengthen our monitoring of the radiation levels in seawater. However, radiation has not affected aquatic life for the time being and at least specialists believe that sea life outside the 20 km evacuation zone has not been affected," said Edano, who has become the public face of the government's disaster response at home and abroad.
Despite that reassurance, the disclosure may well heighten international concern over Japanese seafood exports.
Several countries have already banned milk and produce from areas around the Fukushima Daiichi plant, while others have been monitoring Japanese seafood.
The operator of the Fukushima plant Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) has been trying since March 11's devastating earthquake and tsunami to prevent a catastrophic meltdown.
More than 700 engineers have been working in shifts to stabilise the nuclear complex and work has been advancing to restart water pumps to cool the reactors.
Edano urged TEPCO to make information on the development available more swiftly.
"Without proper information the government cannot provide proper instructions. And I believe there will be more distrust amongst the workers and the general public towards TEPCO. So we have asked TEPCO to consistently make information available to the public or at least to the government," Edano said.
Two of the six reactors at the Fukushima plant are now seen as safe but the other four are volatile, occasionally emitting steam and smoke.