Workers at Japan's damaged nuclear power plant have suspended operations and evacuated

[cal04]

Workers at Japan's damaged nuclear power plant have suspended operations and evacuated, chief Cabinet secretary says.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/15/japan.nuclear.reactors/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1

Workers evacuate stricken nuclear plant
Setback as Japan struggles to contain spiraling nuclear crisis

Workers at a quake-damaged atomic power plant suspended operations and evacuated Wednesday after a surge in radiation made it too dangerous to remain there, dealing a setback to Japan’s frantic efforts to stem a nuclear crisis.

"All the workers there have suspended their operations. We have urged them to evacuate, and they have," Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yukio Edano said, according to a translation by NHK television.

Edano said that a surge in radiation Wednesday meant workers were unable to continue even minimal efforts at the stricken nuclear plant.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42084187/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

Japan abandons stricken nuke plant over radiation
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110316/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_earthquake

Fukushima workers withdraw after radiation spikes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12755739
On Wednesday, Japanese Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said at a news briefing that workers at Fukushima had been withdrawn following the rise in radiation levels. It is believed that about 50 employees had been working at the plant to try to stabilise its four reactors.

[adigal]

1. This does not appear to be a promising sign

I wish someone would give us the real story of what is going on, and the dangers it may pose to Tokyo.

[Angry Dragon]

5. The President should go on tv and tell the American people

what exactly is going on.
No bullshit.
No maybes.
Just the facts and nothing less

[adigal]

7. I agree 100%. It is time. If he knows.

He may not even know what is going on.

[DeSwiss]

10. That would take leadership ability.....

...and guts. Sorry, he's got neither. And besides, he wouldn't want to send the wrong message to the nukies that might indicate his love for all things radioactive and that glow in the dark, is wavering.

[Bluebear]

22. The White House has already said what they want to say:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x654185

[Kalun D]

16. This is dated yesterday

It sounds to me like there is going to be meltdown and breach of containment.

http://allthingsnuclear.org/tagged/Japan_nuclear

the Union of Concerned Scientists

While the authorities continue playing down the possibility of a breach of the primary containment at these reactors, I remain concerned. Fukushima Dai-Ichi reactor Units 1, 2, and 3 are boiling water reactors with Mark I containments. The Mark I (G.E.) is unusually vulnerable to containment failure in the event of a core-melt accident. A recent study by Sandia National Laboratories shows that the likelihood of containment failure in this case is nearly 42% (see Table 4-7 on page 97). The most likely failure scenario involves the molten fuel burning through the reactor vessel, spilling onto the containment floor, and spreading until it contacts and breeches the steel containment-vessel wall.

The Sandia report characterizes these probabilities as “quite high.” It’s not straightforward to interpret these results in the context of the very complicated and uncertain situation at Fukushima. But they are a clear indication of a worrisome vulnerability of the Mark I containment should the core completely melt and escape the reactor vessel.

[leveymg]

2. That's it. Meltdown is now all but certain. G-d save Japan,

and the rest of the world.

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

3. they should tell us what the radiation levels were. they're leaving that out.

[snappyturtle]

4. Well I'd say that's it. How dreadfully sad. nt

[DeSwiss]

6. "Beware the Ides of March." - K&R n/t

[eShirl]

8. et tu, nuke?

[DeSwiss]

12. A metaphor was never more apt.

- We've all been stabbed in the back. The only difference is that we knew it had to happen sooner or later. Humanity is too stupid to handle radioactivity.....

[PA Democrat]

9. MSNBC says workers are returning.

[Vinnie From Indy]

11. suspended operations?

What will happen now? Will the place explode sending radiation all over the planet?

If the place is going to blow, somebody should tell the world now rather than later.

[thewiseguy]

13. South Korea is shipping Boric Acid to Japan

[daleo]

14. It must be super hot

I suppose the helicopters will be next, as with Chernobyl. It goes from bad to worse to even worse.

Its like Edgar said in King Lear - if you can still say, "this is the worst", then its not really the worst yet.

[thewiseguy]

17. Edano said the helicopter operations are too risky

[daleo]

20. Imagine if drones could be used for this

Rather than just killing people.

[seabeyond]

15. 50 workers are not still there? confusing.... nt

[thewiseguy]

18. The container of the number 3 reactor is damaged and is letting off highly radioactive steam

According to Edano.

Thats the reactor with Plutonium. Half life many thousands of years.

Well...I do not know what else to say.

[guitar man]

19. "At 7pm the main hatchway caved in

and he said fellas it's been good to know ya"

that line from "The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald" has been running through my head all evening. :(

God help them all :cry:

[Bluebear]

21. indeed.

[Ferret Annica]

23. This is not good......

http://island-adv.com/2011/03/how-to-survive-nuclear-fallout-from-japans-reactor-meltdown/

[cal04]

24. Workers briefly abandon Japan plant after radiation surge

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/wl_nm/us_japan_quake

Workers were ordered to withdraw briefly from a stricken Japanese nuclear power plant on Wednesday after radiation levels surged, Kyodo news reported, a development that suggested the crisis was spiraling out of control.

Just hours earlier another fire broke out at the earthquake-crippled plant, which has sent low levels of radiation wafting into Tokyo in the past 24 hours, triggering both fear in the capital and international alarm.

The workers were allowed back into the plant after almost an hour when the radiation levels had fallen.