Japan ups nuke crisis severity to match Chernobyl

[defendandprotect]

Japan ups nuke crisis severity to match Chernobyl

By YURI KAGEYAMA and RYAN NAKASHIMA, Associated Press Yuri Kageyama And Ryan Nakashima, Associated Press – 23 mins ago
TOKYO – Japan raised the severity level of the crisis at its crippled nuclear plant Tuesday to rank it on par with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, citing cumulative radiation leaks contaminating the air, tap water, vegetables and seawater.

Japanese nuclear regulators said the rating was being raised from 5 to 7 — the highest level on an international scale overseen by the International Atomic Energy Agency — after new assessments of radiation leaks from the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant since it was disabled by the March 11 tsunami.

The new ranking signifies a "major accident" that includes widespread effects on the environment and health, according to the Vienna-based IAEA.

However, Japanese officials have played down any health effects so far. They said leaks from the Fukushima plant amount to a tenth of the radiation emitted in the Chernobyl disaster, while acknowledging they eventually could exceed Chernobyl's emissions if the crisis continues.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_japan_earthquake

[Adsos Letter]

1. K&R

[Electric Monk]

2. Is it ok to worry now?

I'm not just being a chicken, this is actually a BIG NUCLEAR MELTDOWN REALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

I am, and have been, rather worried for the last couple weeks, but what a fat lot of good it's done so far.

I'm open to suggestions other than calling each other names.... . . . .

[defendandprotect]

3. kick