Human Error Sparks Radioactive Water Leak at Fukushima Plant
A leak of untreated radioactive water at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant last week was caused by 10 open valves that workers failed to close, operator TEPCO revealed Thursday. The slip-up highlights ongoing challenges in managing the site’s hazardous cleanup, over a decade after the 2011 meltdown. 🌊⚠️
🚨 What happened? Workers didn’t notice that critical valves on filtering equipment were left open during maintenance, spilling 1.5 tonnes of water laced with 6.6 billion becquerels of radioactive material. Earlier estimates suggested even higher contamination levels – 5.5 tonnes with 22 billion becquerels of cesium-137. Talk about a radioactive rollercoaster! 📈☢️
TEPCO admitted its operation manuals lacked clear instructions for valve closures, raising questions about safety protocols. “We’ll prevent recurrences,” the company vowed, but skeptics are side-eyeing the pledge. 👀
For students tracking nuclear policy or travelers eyeing Japan trips: This leak is a stark reminder of Fukushima’s long shadow. Stay tuned as investigations continue!
Reference(s):
TEPCO: Water leak at Fukushima power plant caused by open valves
cgtn.com