Britons Told to Quit Tokyo as Radiation Levels Rise

[tekisui]

Source: The Scotsman

British nationals in Tokyo and northern Japan were last night advised to leave the area as the nuclear crisis deepened, amid warnings it might prove worse than Chernobyl.

The Foreign Office said Britons near the disaster zone should either leave the country or move to southern Japan. Other nations also urged their citizens to leave Tokyo, while several big Nordic companies, including Ikea and H&M, offered to help staff relocate further south.

Asian and European airlines began diverting Tokyo flights to Osaka or cancelling them altogether.

The Foreign Office advice was issued after another fraught day that saw engineers pushed back by surging radiation levels as they attempted to bring the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant under control. Radiation was "extremely high", and the water used to cool nuclear fuel at one of the exploded reactors was evaporating.

more: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Britons-told-to-quit-Tokyo.6735416.jp

[liberalmuse]

1. When is that power line due to be in?

That was the best news I'd heard all day, but I haven't heard much about it since this morning.

Right now I'm listening to how human beings are sacrificing their lives to try and save Japan. I wish there were a god so I could sincerely say, God Bless Them.

[tekisui]

4. This is all I can find at the moment:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/66f865a6-4f68-11e0-8632-00144feab49a.html#ixzz1GoUVSLc3

Tepco said late on Wednesday that it had almost completed a new power line that could restore electricity to the complex and help solve the crisis that has threatened a meltdown.

Spokesman Naoki Tsunoda said the power line to Fukushima Daiichi was almost complete. Officials plan to try it “as soon as possible” but could not say when.

The new line would revive electric-powered pumps, allowing the company to maintain a steady water supply to troubled reactors and spent fuel storage ponds, keeping them cool.

[liberalmuse]

5. Thanks! Jesus, I hope so... n/m

[Little Star]

2. But I've read on DU this is no where close to the Chernobyl disaster.

:shrug:

[Chemisse]

3. Three days ago it wasn't even as severe as Three Mile Island.

Now it makes that crisis look like a fun walk in the park.

It is getting worse all the time.