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Tepco: Meltdown at Reactor 1 HOURS After Earthquake ... Reactors 2 and 3 Have Likely Melted Down As Well

George Washington's picture




 

Washington’s Blog

Tepco - the operator of the stricken Japanese nuclear complex - is
finally admitting what independent experts have been saying for months.

Initially, Tepco now admits that reactor number 1 melted down hours after the earthquake. As NHK notes:

Tokyo
Electric Power Company, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear
power plant, says most of the fuel rods in the No.1 reactor had dropped
to the bottom of the pressure vessel within 16 hours of the earthquake on March 11th.

The utility revealed its study on the subject on Sunday.

TEPCO
said it analyzed the data and calculated a timeline for the
developments in the No. 1 reactor on the assumption that the reactor
lost its cooling system as soon as it was hit by the tsunami.

The firm said that within about 3 hours after the reactor automatically shut down, the cooling water had evaporated to a level at the top of the rods.

In the next hour and a half, parts of the fuel rods are believed to have begun melting.

***

Almost of all the fuel rods melted and dropped to the bottom of the pressure vessel by 6:50 am on March 12th.

***

The firm says the melted rods created small holes on the bottom of the vessel...

Tepco has also admitted that reactors 2 and 3 have likely melted down as well. As reported in a separate article from NHK:

TEPCO
also says the gauges at the No.2 and 3 reactors might not be showing
the actual water levels and that both reactors are likely to have
undergone meltdowns.

 

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Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:23 | 1279537 Commander Cody
Commander Cody's picture

The decay heat in the cores immediately after shutdown from the earthquake required an active cooling system.  The loss of cooling and coolant makeup due to the complete loss of power after the arrival of the tsunami set the stage for massive core damage.  Given the ability to inject water via external fire pumps at some point and given the timing and capability of those pumps, it would have been fairly easy to assess the effectiveness of those measures.  Why are we only learning about this now?

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 14:34 | 1280055 hardcleareye
hardcleareye's picture

Within one week of the accident there were industry experts stating that there was a very high probability that a full meltdown had occurred...

The reason you are just learning about it is that TPTB have been using the time interim to "prepare the people" for this news.  They have done this to minimize panic in the population...

The reason the US has stopped monitoring radiation is because there is NOTHING (or so TPTB say) that can be "reasonably done" to minimize to effects on the general population without instilling panic and fear and "damage the US economy".  Better to trade off higher incidents of birth defects and cancer etc.. than to damage the economic base.  Furthermore the cancers that will occur from exposure to low levels of radiation will occur in the "distant future", it appears to take over 10 years for most to develop in an adult.  The children and very young will be another matter.

There is no fixing this and it is going to get worse.

Arnie has to best "non-techie/non-geek" explanations out there..

http://www.fairewinds.com/updates

 

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 16:30 | 1280530 Ruffcut
Ruffcut's picture

To not tell us and warn us of the disaster is treason.

Thanks GW, for keeping it as real as you can with finding the ever shrinking facts.

Fuck blood pressure, fukushima is the heralded new, silent killer.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 16:51 | 1280606 Widowmaker
Widowmaker's picture

Actually it's control.  Control of record bonuses and posturing to profit beforehand.

Money makes these decisions, not safety or some panic bullshit.

The common good is dead fucking last, as always.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:21 | 1279524 Rusty Shorts
Rusty Shorts's picture

Definetly some weird shit going on in Japan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rWDrZIucAQ

 

High Voltage Volcano, Japan. never in my life have i seem anything like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSIPs_5gMp4

 

1,203 Earthquakes in Japan since March 11, 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D30LlIAZMu4&feature=feedu

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 13:02 | 1279707 DonutBoy
DonutBoy's picture

Uh-Oh.  Godzilla's busting out again

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 16:22 | 1280483 swmnguy
swmnguy's picture

(duplicate post, sorry)

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 16:19 | 1280481 swmnguy
swmnguy's picture

History shows again and again how nature points up the folly of man
Godzilla!

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:44 | 1279645 Dejean Splicer
Dejean Splicer's picture

"High Voltage Volcano, Japan. never in my life have i seem anything like this."

Looks like a neutron beam. Now we know where they are dumping the fuel rods.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:17 | 1279508 espirit
espirit's picture

GW - Didn't you post at the onset that ZH'ers were ridiculously over-inflating the damages at NuKuFuKu, no evidence of meltdown, and that our illustrious government controlled media would tell us the truth et al?

I thought so.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:20 | 1279518 espirit
espirit's picture

If I have to wade back through all the Troll Poo to prove it, I'm not going to be a happy camper.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 13:37 | 1279837 Confucious 222
Confucious 222's picture

You must have confused him with trav7777,who along with a few others, tried to minimalize and trivialize everything Fukued up with the reactors, and basically callied anyone worried about the radioactive danger some kind of alarmist pussy.

Right trav7777? How well did you serve humanity with your ego-tripping sanctimonious WRONG bullshit???

 

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 14:43 | 1280079 hardcleareye
hardcleareye's picture

We love ya Trav, but be a "Man" and step up to the plate for some ball busting!!!  lololol

In all fairness, I think as the situation unfolded he changed his opinion.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 15:19 | 1280252 Al Gorerhythm
Al Gorerhythm's picture

Speak for yourself fella. Trav777 is a disingenuous troll.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 13:56 | 1279920 goldfish1
goldfish1's picture

Along with IQ145

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:46 | 1279652 Brother can you...
Brother can you spare a dime's picture

GW has been on this from the begining that TEPCO was lying. What were you reading?

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:48 | 1279660 A Man without Q...
A Man without Qualities's picture

I think he's confusing him with Trav7777...

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 13:02 | 1279700 espirit
espirit's picture

Retracted, and my apologies to GW. I must have confused him with Leo or his other significant troll.

Learned my lesson, now if you'll excuse me while I scrub off the top layer of skin...

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 13:02 | 1279720 Fish Gone Bad
Fish Gone Bad's picture

GW tends to put out some award winning stuff.  What I like about GW's work is that he keeps it up even after the main stream news stops covering it.  Did the Gulf oil spill go away?  Nope.  Did Fukushima go away?  Nope.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:39 | 1279601 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

Proof please. If you gonna throw the shit you'd better be ready to step in it.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:58 | 1279705 espirit
espirit's picture

Retracted, and my apologies to GW. I must have confused him with Leo or his other significant troll.

Learned my lesson, now if you'll excuse me while I scrub off the top layer of skin...

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:13 | 1279495 NotAllowed
NotAllowed's picture

Murderous Bastards

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 13:10 | 1279742 espirit
espirit's picture

If I could, I would retract the following post as I have mistakenly confused GW with another poster.  GW has been on top of this story since it's inception, and benefitted ZH readers with timely copy.

Wading through the troll poo in an effort to discredit GW has taught me the lesson.  Once again, my apology to all.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:11 | 1279487 Herman Strandsc...
Herman Strandschnecke's picture

The worlds' top banker types will be rushing to get to a safe place where they can sleep in metal Faraday Cages with thick reinforced concrete walls around. Probably.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 14:29 | 1280037 citta vritti
citta vritti's picture

DSK’s already there

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 17:47 | 1280804 Agent P
Agent P's picture

ha!

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 14:26 | 1280026 machineh
machineh's picture

Not to mention a free blowjob to welcome the bankers to their bunkers.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:07 | 1279467 Ahmeexnal
Ahmeexnal's picture

Criminal charges must be filed against TEPCO and the Japanese Failed Government.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:38 | 1279609 Dejean Splicer
Dejean Splicer's picture

A widespread boycott of anything Japanese labeled would be more effective. Do not forget how much US IP is owned by Japanese majors. They are granted more US patents than most. I believe only IBM beats them.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 16:01 | 1280408 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

Well, it could be effective if the MSM actually reported on Fukushima instead of... (googling) Donald Trump and Brad Pitt!

Well, DSK did make it to the top of the list with the elite rape trick, along with Turbo Timmah's "All You're Retirement Are Belong to Us" story, but hey did you know that Brad may be having a mid-life crisis? (maybe it's his crazy wife's tats?)

Meanwhile, I'm having a difficult time keeping up with Lilo.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:06 | 1279443 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

As Chris Martenson notes in his latest posting either TEPCO was lying about the water temperature readings they were posting in the weeks after the earthquake where they never showed temperatures greater than 800F and the fuel cladding melts about 2,000F, or all the measuring equipment malfunctioned. Either scenario is deeply disturbing.

Considering how TEPCO, the Japanese government and quite possibly the US have all been lying since the start, the only question is what else are they lying about? Time will tell. It's not like they can put a huge tent up around the entire sticking mess and shield it from public view.

Oh...wait a minute.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:11 | 1279475 George Washington
George Washington's picture

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 15:49 | 1280351 VyseLegendaire
VyseLegendaire's picture

+2 What a fucking flea circus of biblical proportions. 

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 14:51 | 1280111 Quaderratic Probing
Quaderratic Probing's picture

Fukushima

last modified 2011-05-13 11:26

Thank you for your interest in the FLEXPART products for Fukushima. The Forecast system is no longer running.

We have discontinued our Flexpart forecast of the atmospheric dispersal of radionucleides from Fukushima. This due to the fact that we do not have access to reliable release rates reflecting the current situation at the plant to be used as input to our simulations. It is likely that the release of radioactive material is significantly reduced compared to the initial period, and that levels no longer pose a health risk at distance from the plant.

We thank you for your interest in our FLEXPART products.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 13:44 | 1279848 Weisbrot
Weisbrot's picture

 

so many disasters man made & others

so much turmoil all over the globe

conspiracy or happenstance it almost doesnt matter

I am convinced that the powers that be, believe something much worse will happen

various theories and reasons abound, based on strings or piles of truth

things will never be what they were

may what ever it is or the series of events that lead to it

be quick, be concise, and have the best possible outcome for the worse of all possible situations

 

until then enjoy all the side shows

and remember that everything is temporary

 

 

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 15:17 | 1280230 Al Gorerhythm
Al Gorerhythm's picture

and remember that everything is temporary

Radioactive fallout, not so much.

On a long enough timeline, yeah.


Mon, 05/16/2011 - 12:57 | 1279701 Fish Gone Bad
Fish Gone Bad's picture

+1

My wife and I are not going to Hawaii this year, mostly because of what we do not know about the Japanese Trifecta.  My worst case guess is the reactors are spewing radioactive dust all over the islands.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 18:20 | 1280885 Dirtt
Dirtt's picture

The closest the jet stream got to Maui's North Shore was over 950 miles to the North.  The toxic radiation coming from SoRoS 0>BaMa is going to waste you before Fukushima.

 

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 16:26 | 1280502 ShankyS
ShankyS's picture

I'm going to HI end of this month. They're gonna kill you with GMO, Corexit, pesticides, fluoride or some other manner, speaking of trifectas, I might as well go all the way. Heck, you should go this summer before it becomes a barren nuclear wasteland.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 14:23 | 1280009 unky
unky's picture

i will take your airplane and hotel tickets...

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 14:57 | 1280137 Paul Bogdanich
Paul Bogdanich's picture

Really what a freaking ninny.  The levels of radiation across that much ocean aare less than a suntan.

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 15:23 | 1280267 LowProfile
LowProfile's picture

Yeah, everybody could stand a few hundred chest x-rays each year, no problem.

http://news.discovery.com/animals/sharks-dying-by-the-dozens-due-to-inte...

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