Japan Raises Incident Level at Nuclear Site (to Level 5) - IAEA

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Japan raises incident level at nuclear site - IAEA

VIENNA | Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:46pm IST

(Reuters) - Japan has raised the incident level at a disaster-hit nuclear power reactor, the U.N. nuclear watchdog reported on a monitoring website on Friday.

The entry gave the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi site a level 5 rating, up from level 4 previously on a 1-7 scale.

That would suggest a level of seriousness on par with the Three Mile Island accident in the United States in 1979.

Read more: http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/03/18/idINIndia-55686820110318

[PA Democrat]

1. There was a reporter on CNN this morning spinning this as great news.

He said that Three Mile Island had a good outcome so we should be optimistic that the Kukushima outcome will be as good.:eyes:

[Hissyspit]

2. Good grief. It's probably really a 6 at this point, anyway.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x673762

[nc4bo]

3. I feel the same way. Everything underestimated, underplayed, undercounted

I think we've all learned not to put our trust solely in any government or agency, domestic or international.

[onehandle]

4. Yeah, is this just their viewpoint? Outside experts have been saying it's a 6 for days...

...and moving towards a 7.

[xultar]

9. +1

[SkyDaddy7]

8. Trying to be positive is not bad...Or spin.

I have heard much worse from the media on this issue.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

5. I always thought that the US had a stranglehold on the concept of CYA being the main priority.

I wonder if it will be years before we get the full report on this? That is a rhetorical question since they've given us no reason to believe much of anything that they say.

And as has been pointed out by posters above, TMI was a lot worse than they let on and the International (unbiased) experts have had this above level 5 all week.

For an educational, albeit unnerving experience, try reading some of the reports from previous incidents and inspections done by the NRC at plants in this country. I mean, who would have guessed that plants would simply bury radioactive waste along trails used by hikers, fishermen and hunters? That is another rhetorical question. Money is always the bottom line.

[Demeter]

6. There Comes a Point When Saving Face Is Counterproductive

They really ought to be saving their asses.

[truebrit71]

10. I was thinking this morning this will make one helluva 'Frontline' expose some day...

...

[Name removed]

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