March 21, 2011

The nuclear power plants in Japan after the March 11 , 2011 earthquakes could become a major nuclear disaster.
Keep watching this page for updates and insights by Raymond Rouse on the issues from a nuke scientist's point of view.

Continuing Updates:

IAEA Status of Fukushima

INES Leaflet on Nuclear Accidents

Continuing Updates on Earthquakes around the world

August 31, 2012
Gundersen: “I think Fukushima Daiichi released somewhat more radiation than Chernobyl” (VIDEO)

Underground cesium near Fukushima reactors increases the deeper samples get — Other locations tested are much different, with higher radioactivity on top

Nuclear Engineer: Removed fuel assemblies are NOT from spent fuel pool — New fuel kept in its own storage area — Not indicative of what’s going on in SFP (VIDEO)

August 30, 2012
Tepco: “Grit found in spaces between the rods” from Fukushima No. 4 fuel pool — Only a ‘visual examination’ after over a month

Fukushima Tapes in English: Daini workers needed emergency room after being at Unit 4 — Unable to decontaminate exposed people — “Plants are not safe” (VIDEO)

August 29, 2012
Japanese officialTepco: “Grit found in spaces between the rods” from Fukushima No. 4 fuel pool — Only a ‘visual examination’ after over a months report concerns about gamma rays being emitted from Fukushima plant debris

August 28, 2012
Japanese officials report concerns about gamma rays being emitted from Fukushima plant debris

Japan Newspaper: Hospitals refused to treat Fukushima plant workers

5 Weeks Later: Tepco begins checking fuel assemblies it removed from Unit 4 pool — Says no ‘major’ deformations so far

August 27, 2012
Physician: International medical community must immediately assist Japanese — Radioactive elements re-concentrate in various bodily organs

NHK: “Strong concerns” over 36% of Fukushima kids having thyroid lumps — Now testing outside Fukushima to begin

August 26 2012
Mainichi: “Nuclear devastation” for Japan, in peace time — Fukushima disaster “the same as war” -Buddhist Nun

August 25 2012
NHK: Mayor says work to remove radioactive substances “making no progress” (VIDEO)

August 24, 2012
Japan Nuclear Expert: Melted fuel may have gone through cement floor and into ground under Fukushima reactors — I don’t believe Tepco’s claim for one second — Where in the world is it? (VIDEO)

Reactor Specialist on Unit 3: “I can’t tell you if it’s a hydrogen explosion or a nuclear explosion” (VIDEO)

August 23, 2012
Japan Nuclear Professor: Fukushima smoke stacks releasing radiation on a daily basis (VIDEO)

Mainichi: Almost 20,000 becquerels of cesium detected inside Fukushima man — “This is not a level that would affect health” — Equals less than 1 millisievert per year?

August 22, 2012
Record radiation found in fish near Fukushima plant

Mainichi: “High-radiation jungle” developing in Fukushima mountains, forests — “A natural disaster will certainly occur” if situation continues

August 21, 2012
The 2Japan Professor: “An emergency within an emergency” at Fukushima plant — Tepco may be criminally liable for endangering workers0km area, 16th month

Report: Concern work not being done at Reactors 1-3 — Perhaps much longer than 50 years just to contain radiation

August 20, 2012
The 20km area, 16th month

Gundersen: Rapid insect mutations seen after Fukushima are frightening (VIDEO)

August 19, 2012
Jiji: Footage reveals Tepco made plans to evacuate Fukushima Daiichi

Mainichi Interview: “The reactors still continue to release radioactive materials” — “The gov’t needs to recognize the gravity of this situation”

August 18, 2012
NHK: “The unimaginable was happening” — Workers say part of Reactor 2 containment vessel destroyed — After alarming pressure readings, “we heard a loud bang… pressure is now zero” (VIDEO)

Gundersen: It’s almost “unimaginably unimaginable” how close we came to losing 14 nuclear reactors after 3/11 (AUDIO)

August 17, 2012
Japan gov’t concealed Reactor No. 3 explosion until just before it happened — Ordered that alarming spike of pressure inside containment vessel be kept from public

Fukushima Plant Volunteer: It’s not just an accident for Japan, but for people around the world — Pressure from U.S. is needed — Tepco can’t handle situation -Kyodo

August 16, 2012
Japan Times: Doctor warns suffering of Fukushima Daiichi workers could trigger accidents at plant — “Many confessed they have almost zero work motivation”

Plutonium releases from Fukushima plant highlighted in final sentence of butterfly mutation study

Japan Paper: Malformations in 10% of cotton worms from Fukushima town -Entomologist (PHOTO)

10 times more deformed worms in Fukushima town — Some have 2 abdomens, legs with necrosis, damaged feelers

August 15, 2012
Gundersen: Japan gov’t attempting to cover up health effects — A lot of deformities and cancers will be identified by citizens in next couple of years (AUDIO)

NBC: “It’s pretty clear something has gone wrong with the ecosystem” -Japan Researcher

August 14, 2012
Study: Japan nuclear disaster caused mutated butterflies

Japan video shows delay in using seawater to cool meltdown reactor

Photo after 3/11: “What looked like molten fuel leaking out of a gap at top of Reactor No. 1? (VIDEO)

Gundersen: We’ve got some never-before-seen video of Unit 4 coming out — “My conclusion is it’s really serious” (AUDIO)

August 13, 2012
Radio: Fukushima ranked Level 8 on newly developed nuclear scale, above Chernobyl (CHART)

August 12, 2012
NHK Documentary: “The worse-case scenario was unfolding” as Unit 3?s pressure reached its limit on March 14 (VIDEO)

August 11, 2012
Japan Newspaper: Tokyo area turned out to be as contaminated as Fukushima -Kyoto Professor

August 10, 2012
Fukushima fishermen battle to turn the tide on a crippled industry

Videos Shed Light on Chaos at Fukushima as a Nuclear Crisis Unfolded

August 9, 2012
Fukushima Plant Chief after 3/11: “Reactor 3, probably steam explosion, it just happened!” — NRC Chairman: Steam explosion “to reject an entire core”? (VIDEO)

August 8, 2012
Fukushima Watch: Highlights of Video From Inside Tepco’s Nuclear Crisis Center

Nuclear Expert: Fukushima explosions could have actually blown holes through containment vessels (Harvard Video)

Tepco Official on Unit 3: “We don’t know if it was really a hydrogen explosion”

Why Fukushima Workers Are Facing Threats and Stigma

August 7, 2012
Tepco’s Fukushima Footage: “Worst-case scenario” to unfold in 2 hours if nothing is done — 1.5 hours later all fuel rods exposed at Reactor No. 2 — Official mentions evacuation soon after

August 6, 2012
AP: Fukushima Daiichi workers could try to sabotage plant, warns their doctor

Radioactive cesium reported in Kellogg’s cereal from Japan — Almost 20 becquerels per kilogram (PHOTO)

August 5, 2012
July 2012: Fukushima Man has 20,000 becquerels of cesium in body — Wife has 10,000 Bq

Canadian Nuclear Expert: Reactor is releasing 200 trillion becquerels of tritium every year — Becomes a part of your body and all living things — Gives off beta particles which produce damage that can result in cancer (VIDEO)

August 4, 2012
Tepco Admits “Serious Problem”: Fukushima plant worker ‘forgot’ to wear dosimeter — Almost over radiation limit in just 2 months — Had been working at Unit 4

August 3, 2012
Former Fukushima Daiichi Worker: My best guess is explosion had to blow lid off pressure vessel at Reactor 1

Worker confirms Tepco taking weekends off at Fukushima Daiichi

August 2, 2012
Tepco planning to float balloon inside Reactor 1 in early August — Inspecting top floor with spent fuel pool

NHK: Criminal inquiry into nuclear accident begins — Fukushima disaster “a criminal act by the gov’t and Tepco”? — Multiple prosecutors coordinating investigation

Fukushima weather forecast giving out radiation levels

August 1, 2012
Two workers fall ill while at Reactor 3, transported to hospital in ambulance — Both had altered consciousness

July 2012 Updates

June 2012 Updates

May 2012 Updates

April 2012 Updates

March 2012 Updates

February 2012 Updates

January 2012 Updates

December 2011 Updates

November 2011 Updates

October 2011 Updates

September 2011 Updates

August 2011 Updates

July 2011 Updates

June 2011 Updates

April 27 - May 31, 2011 Updates

April 18 - 26, 2011 Updates

April 10 - 17, 2011 Updates

April 2 - 9, 2011 Updates

March 27 - April 1, 2011 Updates

March 11 - 26, 2011 Updates