I agree that there’s not going to be a full core meltdown. But if the backup cooling systems were damaged by the quake, that could greatly complicate the situation. It’s odd that radiation levels outside the plant are reportedly 8X normal levels. That probably means some radioactive steam has already been vented out of the plant. But overall I’m confident that these plants were designed to get through a huge earthquake list this one without a major disaster.
The coolant water's temperature had reached boiling temperature, the agency reported, citing the power plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power.
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Authorities have ordered the evacuation of all civilians in a two-mile radius around the No.1 plant, a total of about 3,000 people, and planned to vent slightly radioactive steam from the plant, located about 160 miles north of Tokyo.
10 minutes ago
That was supposed to say:
But overall I’m confident that these plants were designed to get through a huge earthquake like this one without a major disaster.