The horrifying consequences of the biggest earthquake to hit Japan since records began are only just beginning to be discovered, with the tsunami that followed causing massive devastation and engulfing cities and airports, leading to the declaration of a nuclear emergency at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant after efforts to cool malfunctioning reactor cores failed.
The 8.9 magnitude quake that struck Japan’s north eastern coast this morning sent 30 foot high waves sweeping through impacted areas and the death toll is climbing by the hour.
But an even greater tragedy could be imminent after Japanese authorities declared a nuclear emergency following technicians’ failure to pump water to cool a nuclear reactor plant located in the town of Okuma.
“The operator of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant reported an abnormality Friday following a powerful earthquake which hit a wide area in northeastern Japan including Fukushima Prefecture, the industry ministry said,” reports Kyodo Wire.
“The system to cool reactor cores in case of emergency stopped at the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors of the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co., it said.”
NHK Broadcasting reports that all six reactors shut down immediately following the earthquake, but that electrical problems prevented cooler pumps in reactor #1 from functioning. Emergency cooling systems were successfully activated for reactor #2, but presumably failed for reactor #1.
Read more:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/japan-declares-nuclear-emergency-after-devastating-earthquake.html
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