Japan plugs nuclear leak

Heroic Japanese workers yesterday plugged a 12-inch crack leaking highly toxic water into sea from a concrete pit at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant, but were confronted with a new problem of gas build-up at one of the six reactors which may cause another hydrogen blast.

The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), said the leak of radioactive water from a seaside pit located near the No.2 reactor, was stopped after workers injected some 6,000 litres of chemical agents, including "water glass" or sodium silicate.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito (top left) and Crown Princess Masako talk to evacuees at a gymnasium, currently serving as an evacuation center, inside Ajinomoto stadium in western Tokyo yesterday

The nitrogen injection process is expected to take several days, and may lead to the release of radioactive substances in the air.

Last month's hydrogen blasts at the No.1 and No.3 reactors following the March 11 mega quake and tsunami destroyed reactor buildings, causing leaks of radioactive steam from the plant.

The government's nuclear safety agency said it has ordered TEPCO to keep monitoring the concrete pit, from where the toxic water release was halted, to check whether leakage into the Pacific Ocean has completely stopped, nearly four weeks after the magnitude-9 quake and tsunami struck Japan's northeast leaving nearly 30,000 people dead or missing.

There is a possibility that the water, which has lost an outlet, may show up from other areas in the plant's premises, it said.

The highly radioactive water is believed to have come from the No 2 reactor's core, where fuel rods have partially melted, and ended up in the pit.

Paying tribute

Meanwhile, Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako visited quake survivors and nuclear plant evacuees, who are being sheltered at a stadium in Tokyo.

The couple "encouraged" about 130 evacuees from Iwaki City and other municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture during the visit, NHK said.

The prince and princess talked to families and asked about their health.

One elderly evacuee thanked them for their sympathy, the report said, adding a woman said she appreciates attempts by the Imperial family, including the Emperor and Empress, to curb their power consumption to support quake survivors.

The facility has accepted people from northeastern Japan affected by the twin disaster, particularly from areas near the Fukushima Power Station.

Growing anxiety

Anxiety is growing about seawater contamination and safety of seafood, especially after TEPCO started dumping water containing low-levels of radioactive materials into the sea this week.

High levels of iodine about twice the legal limit for vegetables were found in launce, a small fish, which was caught off Ibaraki prefecture to the south of Fukushima.

The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives Associations issued a statement, lodging a strong protest with TEPCO and the government over the release of toxic water.

Fishermen are "immeasurably angry" at the irresponsible" conduct of dumping radioactive water into the sea without any prior consultation with them.