Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Explosion Radiation Leak Has Been Confirmed by Chief Cabinet secretary Edano.One Worker Has Been Irradiated.

By Kathleen

Following the serious explosion at the Fukushima nuclear power plant earlier Japan's Chief Cabinet secretary has confirmed that there has been a radiation leak there.

Reuters reports that at least 4 people were injured in the explosion which destroyed the walls and roof of a building at the site. It is thought that the explosion may have occurred in an ancillary building and not of the actual reactor itself.

TEPCO have issued a press release in which it has been confirmed that one worker has been irradiated and has received medical treatment by a "special physician."

According to NHK TV the exclusion zone surrounding the nuclear plant has been extended to 20 kms.

UPDATE:

The following photo shows police wearing protective clothing and breathing apparatus as they head towards the Fukushima Power Plant.

Reuters

Greenpeace publishes a response to the present nuclear crisis in Japan.

Press release - March 12, 2011

Tokyo, 12 March, 2011 – Reacting to reports that radioactive materials including the isotope Cesium-137 have been released from the Fukushima power plant, and that increased levels of radiation have been detected in the immediate vicinity, Jan Beranek, Head of Greenpeace International Nuclear Campaign said:

“Our thoughts continue to be with the Japanese people as they face the threat of a nuclear disaster, following already devastating earthquake and tsunami. The authorities must focus on keeping people safe, and avoiding any further releases of radioactivity”.

“The evolving situation at Fukushima remains far from clear, but what we do know is that contamination from the release of Cesium-137 poses a significant health risk to anyone exposed. Cesium-137 has been one if the isotopes causing the greatest health impacts following the Chernobyl disaster, because it can remain in the environment and food chain for 300 years.”

“Fukushima remains under threat of a serious reactor meltdown; this would potentially create an iodine cloud, which could spread high radiation levels to both the environment and population over many tens of kilometres. By simply communicating to local populations the importance of staying indoors, the government could limit potential radiation doses from this cloud by a factor 2 to 5.”

“How many more warnings do we before we finally grasp that nuclear reactors are inherently hazardous? The nuclear industry always tells us that situation like this cannot happen with modern reactors, yet Japan is currently in the middle of a potentially devastating nuclear crisis. Once again, we are reminded of the inherent risks of nuclear power, which will always be vulnerable to the potentially deadly combination of human error, design failure and natural disaster.”

“Greenpeace is calling for the phase out of existing reactors, and no construction of new commercial nuclear reactors. Governments should invest in renewable energy resources that are not only environmentally sound but also affordable and reliable”.
CONTACTS:

Greenpeace International Press Desk Hotline +31 (0) 20 7182470

Jan Beranek, Greenpeace International Head of Nuclear Campaign: + 31 (0) 651 109 558

Notes:

Japan has 54 rectors in total in 18 power plants, with 47,000MW installed capacity which generated 29 percent of electricity supply in 2010. Four nuclear power plants located on the eastern coast close to the epicenter were affected: Onagawa (3 reactors), Fukushima-Daiichi (6 reactors), Fukushima-Daini (4 reactors) and Tokai (1 reactor). The next nearest nuclear power plant is Kashiwazaki-Kariwa (7 reactors) that sits on the opposite site of the island, on its western coast.

For more information on how Japan can phase out nuclear energy please read Japan Energy [R]evolution scenario