Radiation leaks from fuel rods suspected at Tsuruga plant

english.kyodonews.jp ^ | May 2, 2011 | no byline

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Leaks of radioactive substances from fuel rods are suspected to have occurred at a nuclear power plant in Tsuruga, the Fukui prefectural government said Monday, citing a rise in the level of radioactive substances in coolant water.

The operator, Japan Atomic Power Co., will manually shut down the No. 2 reactor of the plant on the Sea of Japan coast and examine the primary cooling system for it. The local government denied that the levels of radioactive substances could threaten the nearby environment.

According to Japan Atomic, 4.2 becquerels of iodine-133 and 3,900 becquerels of xenon gas were detected per cubic centimeter Monday, up from 2.1 and 5.2 becquerels, respectively, during previous measurements conducted last Tuesday.

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As if those exhausted people don't have enough to do looking for missing loved ones, grieving the dead, cleaning up tsunami wreckage and fighting multiple core meltdowns in Fukushima... Continued Prayers for the people of Japan.