I was translating the japanese news report on justin.tv and the rods have been “exposed” from water since the beginning when the backup collant pump failed.
The fuel rods are in their control rods and there is seawater pumped into the base to continue cooling while they expel gas from the cooling chamber to lower pressure.
BOTH THE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE ARE FALLING.
These reactors will be cold stopped, but it will take a while as they have to use unorthodox methods.
I am actually impressed how competent and honest Tokyo Electric has been though all of this.
Meaning what methods. If there aren't enough working pumps to get the seawater to the reactors...what other than water can cool these?