Fukushima pauses sea water discharge after earthquake, amid dismantling
16 March 2024 13:55
The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant announced that "as a precautionary measure," it has suspended the process of discharging treated water from the plant into the sea. The reason is an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale, which hit the coast of Fukushima Prefecture.
In February, another phase of discharging the stored water into the Pacific began, previously cleaned to eliminate most radioactive substances, except tritium, which is dangerous only in high concentrated doses.
According to the original schedule, the fourth phase of water discharge into the sea since last summer was to end this coming Sunday. However, after the earthquake that occurred on Friday off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture "as a precaution, we have suspended operations at these facilities, in accordance with previously defined operational protocols," the operator added.
Shortly after the earthquake, the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) reported on its website that no abnormalities had been detected in the nuclear facilities in Fukushima.
Located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the Fukushima Daiichi plant was destroyed in 2011 by a massive tsunami caused by an underwater earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 on the Richter scale.
Japanese plant to be dismantled. It will take decades
The plant is currently in the dismantling phase. This is a colossal and extremely complex endeavour that is expected to take several decades, AFP reminds.
China has sharply criticised the discharge of treated water from the plant into the sea, although this process was approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In response, Beijing has suspended all imports of Japanese seafood since last summer, and a few months later, Russia followed suit.
