Japan live blog: Company says radiation exposure could have been avoided
Local residents clear debris around their homes in the town of Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture on March 26.
March 26th, 2011
05:55 AM ET

Japan live blog: Company says radiation exposure could have been avoided

A magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit northern Japan on March 11, triggering tsunamis that caused widespread devastation and crippled a nuclear power plant. Are you in an affected area? Send an iReport. Read the full report on the quake's aftermath and check out our interactive explainer on Japan's damaged nuclear reactors.

[5:30 a.m. ET Saturday, 6:41 p.m. Saturday in Tokyo] An official with the Tokyo Electric Power Company, which runs the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, apologized Saturday and said the exposure of three workers to highly radioactive water could have been avoided with better communication.

Hideyuki Koyama said tests of water found in the basement of the No. 1 reactor's turbine building on March 18 showed high levels of radiation.

That fact - and a general sense that water accumulating in turbine and others buildings around the plant may be dangerously radioactive - did not appear to resonate on March 24 during an operation in the No. 3 reactor's turbine building. On that date, three workers were exposed to between 173 and 181 millisieverts of radiation, including two with direct exposure on their skin, while laying cable.

Koyama said that radiation alarms went off while the men were working, but they continued with their mission for between 40 and 50 minutes assuming it was a false alarm.

[1:55 a.m. ET Saturday, 2:55 p.m. Saturday in Tokyo] Airborne radiation levels continue to fall outside the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, though concerns remain about potentially ominous breaches in reactor cores after water showed alarming radiation levels in tests at two locales.

An official with the Tokyo Electric Power Co. - which operates the facility - told reporters Saturday that water samples from the turbine buildings for the Nos. 1 and 2 reactors similarly found high levels of radiation.

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Filed under: 2011 tsunami • Japan • Uncategorized
soundoff (163 Responses)
  1. L64

    Sounds like you are the one who will be looking for a new job!

    March 26, 2011 at 3:05 pm | Report abuse |
  2. L64

    Toodles!

    March 26, 2011 at 3:06 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Brad W.

    @L64: Why does my chest get a warm feeling when I see your handle and post? I'm 44 years old and out of love with my wife. I want you.

    March 26, 2011 at 3:11 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Jazz7

    Hello Cesar , what do you think

    March 26, 2011 at 3:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jazz7

      Dare , thought these live blogs posted with my picture , must be the actual LIVE blog. I'm going there now

      March 26, 2011 at 3:13 pm | Report abuse |
  5. L64

    You need to move on. Now.

    March 26, 2011 at 3:12 pm | Report abuse |
  6. L64

    Hi jazz. Someone was looking for you earlier.

    March 26, 2011 at 3:13 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Jazz7

    Good for u L64 , now that is a lady , watch and learn

    March 26, 2011 at 3:14 pm | Report abuse |
  8. L64

    Reader l believe.

    March 26, 2011 at 3:16 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Jazz7

    Ok, then I will be on at the first blog tonight at 7pm if you get this @ reader

    March 26, 2011 at 3:22 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Brad W.

    @L64: My fetish: Have a dream girl sit on my lap. Could that be you? Maybe. I hope to find out by the end of the year as I feel your warmth on my laps.

    March 26, 2011 at 3:25 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Jazz7

    Now my post arent working , I asked L64 how this blog became an attack on u ?

    March 26, 2011 at 3:25 pm | Report abuse |
  12. L64

    No idea! Was talking cereal w ruffnut earlier and this guy just appeared. Not worth even thinking about! 🙂

    March 26, 2011 at 3:31 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Blue Eyes

    What was Reader saying about me ?

    March 26, 2011 at 3:34 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Brad W.

    Its spring L64, my daughter is turning 8 next weekend, kiddie party time. Ill look for you in April, and I EXPECT better responses. Good Bye Honey.

    March 26, 2011 at 3:34 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Jazz7

    @ L64 , sorry that's my other name for today , what was Reader saying about me ?

    March 26, 2011 at 3:37 pm | Report abuse |
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