# 5425
With 6 separate reactors at the earthquake damaged Fukushima nuclear facility in Japan, and with each experiencing different levels of damage and concerns, keeping their statuses straight based on text reporting has always been tough.
The IAEA helps out with this handy reference chart that shows at a glance the status and color-coded level of concern in a variety of categories for each reactor.
(Click image to Enlarge)
The above graphic appears as part of a lengthy IAEA report released yesterday, updating the situation at the Fukushima facility.
You’ll find a brief excerpt below, but follow the link to read it in its entirety.
Japan Earthquake Update (20 March 2011, 21:00 UTC)
(Excerpt)
IAEA Briefing on Fukushima Nuclear Emergency (20 March 2011, 15.30 UTC)
On Sunday, 20 March 2011, Graham Andrew, Special Adviser to the IAEA Director General on Scientific and Technical Affairs, briefed both Member States and the media on the current status of nuclear safety in Japan. His opening remarks, which he delivered at 15:30 UTC at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, are provided below:
1. Current Situation
There have been some positive developments in the last 24 hours, but the overall situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant remains very serious.
Efforts to restore electrical power to the site continue. Off-site electrical power has been connected to the local substation for Unit 2 today. Work is continuing under difficult conditions to connect power from the substation to the reactor building. Seawater is still being injected into the reactor pressure vessels of Units 1, 2 and 3. Water injection is not needed for Unit 4 as the reactor is in outage.
White smoke or vapour from Unit 3 is still being observed, but it is less intense than on previous days. Spraying of the reactor building with water is in progress.
Following an initial rise in pressure in the Unit 3 reactor pressure vessel, plans were made to vent the vessel should it become necessary. However, from information recently provided by NISA they have decided not to vent as the vessel pressure has started to reduce.
The situation in the reactor spent fuel pools is relatively stable, but is still of concern. Spraying of water into the pool of Unit 4 started yesterday. The Agency still lacks data on water levels and temperatures at the spent fuel pools at Units 1, 2, 3 and 4.
A positive development is that cooling has been restored to the reactor pressure vessels in Units 5 and 6. Temperatures in the spent fuel pools at these two units, which had been rising in the last few days, have now fallen significantly to around 40 degrees centigrade from a maximum of about 69 degrees yesterday. Two diesel generators, one for each Unit, are providing electricity.
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