Tuesday, July 17, 2007

In the wake of yesterday’s earthquakes, Japan is today reporting that leaks at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant are worse than first reported.

In addition to a leak of 315 gallons (1200 liters) of radioactive water into the Sea of Japan, reports say that drums with nuclear waste lost their lids and radioactive gases cobalt-60, chromium-51 and iodine were released into the atmosphere. Several pipes are also reported to have broken.

Officials are also reporting 50 different problems at the plant of “malfunctioning and trouble,” but officials would not comment further on the damage other than calling the issues “minor.”