Reply #11: Update from TOD on today's aftershock:

[robdogbucky]

"Yet another large aftershock shook the region around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, causing a brief evacuation of workers and an interruption to the electricity flow to external pumps used to provide fresh water to cool the reactor pressure vessels and spent fuel ponds. The injection of nitrogen into the No. 1 reactor pressure vessel, aimed at reducing the risk of additional hydrogen explosions, has also resumed. However, the pressure is rising slower than expected, suggesting a possible leak.

The International Atomic Energy Agency status summary for April 11 shows no substantial change over the past few days:

Note that while freshwater is being injected, it is not being cycled. Added water replaces that lost due to evaporation (which provides cooling) and leakage (unknown extent, but which could add to the volume of radioactive water flooding certain areas of the plant). Most of that salt added from the seawater used earlier is still there.

The Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan Monday released an estimate that the plant had may have been releasing up to 10,000 terabecquerels or radioactivity per hour at some point. Although it is now estimated to be releasing only 1 terabecquerel per hour, the cumulative burden in the nearby vicinity is still increasing, The government forcing an expansion of the recommended evacuation area."

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/7794#more