3 nuclear reactors melted down after quake, Japan confirms

CNN via Drudge ^ | 6/6/2011 | the CNN Wire Staff

[Sprite518]

Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant experienced full meltdowns at three reactors in the wake of an earthquake and tsunami in March, the country's Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters said Monday.

The nuclear group's new evaluation, released Monday, goes further than previous statements in describing the extent of the damage caused by an earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

The announcement will not change plans for how to stabilize the Fukushima Daiichi plant, the agency said.

Reactors 1, 2 and 3 experienced a full meltdown, it said.

[Sprite518]

10 to 1 if Bush was president then the Media and Press would be up in arms about this. However, since they have a love fest for Obama... Don't count on hearing much about it.

[Mr. K]

Who thought that 8 hours backup battery life was enough?

If it was not for the stupid batterries this would have been a shining example of technology

[Sprite518]

No doubt about that.

[Lurker]

Who thought that 8 hours backup battery life was enough?

I'd be willing to bet that those batteries filled a couple of buildings, and that's just for 8 hours. These ain't Ray-O-Vac D cells we're talking about.

[GonzoGOP]

Who thought that 8 hours backup battery life was enough?

They were only supposed to last long enough to get the diesels started. When the diesels got knocked out they lost their chance to save the plant. Once it became clear that they weren't going to get the diesels started again it became a matter of containment.

[allen08gop]

The other problem is with the term meltdown. It’s not a term officially used.

Many people think China Syndrome when nothing could be further from the truth.

The core melted and is sitting in the bottom of the pressure vessel — specifically designed to contain the core in case of that happening. At least one has a small breech. Not good, but not that bad either. It will take longer to clean it up.

Considering what those reactors lived through, it is remarkable they survived as well as they did...

[shield]

My son in law said if worse comes to worse...they’ll have to bury the site and move everyone miles away from it.

[Larry Lucido]

And yet we’re all still alive.

[BenKenobi]

Interesting. I was curious as to whether the plants had actually melted down. This makes it worse than 3 mile Island and the second worst plant disaster.

Not too shabby outcome though. Nobody dead, and the plants shutdown and contained.

[SIDENET]

Wasn't this supposed to create a race of human-eating mutants?

(I feel somehow cheated.)

[Nowhere Man]

I came up with the idea that Japan should have brought in a diesel generator ASAP during that time the batteries were running the pumps. If the railroad was still intact, even a diesel/electric locomotive will do, they can put out enough A/C to run a small town.

[Nowhere Man]

I want some CHUDS (Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers) too. B-D

P.S. - Can't forget Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, Gammera, Megalon and the Smog Monster too. B-D

[SIDENET]

Gotta have the C.H.U.D.s!

(My absolute fave was always Mothra, though.)

[NVDave]

The batteries were designed to buy time to bring the diesels online after an outside power interruption, not run the plant’s control and cooling for days.

The single most inept decision (in hindsight) was locating the diesels in the turbine rooms, on the seaward side of the plant. Those buildings were completely inundated with water when the tsunami hit.

I’ve still been unable to determine what level of diesel expertise was available on-site after the tsunami. These are big diesels - with outputs in the megawatts, and possible set to start with compressed air.

[Prokopton]

Wasn't this supposed to create a race of human-eating mutants?

Actually, according to most liberals, three meltdowns should have destroyed the entire earth, if not the solar system.

[6ppc]

Wasn't this supposed to create a race of human-eating mutants?

Give it a little time...mutations don't happen overnight!

[GonzoGOP]

Wasn't this supposed to create a race of human-eating mutants?

You have to pay extra for that. Just wasn't in the budget.

On a side note Japan should announce that any of the "Whale Wars" people who board their ships this year will be assigned to Fukushima cleanup duty. Hey they want to save the oceans, let them work off their community service time doing just that.

[Cymbaline]

I remember there was supposed to be a huge cloud of irradiated dust or something-or-other coming across the Pacific ocean that we were all supposed to be scared of. Whatever happened with that?

[Cymbaline]

Actually, according to most liberals, three meltdowns should have destroyed the entire earth, if not the solar system.

And yet now they're strangely quiet. Nothing happened, oh well, never mind, move along. Ignore the fact that we were panicking and fear-mongering for an entire month.

[Moleman]

3 nuclear reactors melted down after quake, Japan confirms

Oh phoeey no they didn't (/sarcasam)