Engineers at Japan’s damaged Dai-Ichi nuclear plant were evacuated from one reactor after three men suffered radiation burns, the second retreat from the location in as many days.
Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), operator of the plant located 220 km north of Tokyo, had resumed efforts to restore electricity to the number three reactor today. The area was cleared of technicians yesterday after black smoke was detected.
The injured workers were contaminated with up to 180 millisieverts of radiation, close to the recommended limit, after working in water 30 cm deep while laying a power cable. Two of the workers were hospitalised with beta radiation burns on their feet after water had seeped into their boots. Dangerous radiation levels, fires and explosions at four of the six reactors have hampered repair work since a magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami on March 11 knocked out the electricity.
“We’re trying to prevent further deterioration as well as restore the power,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said today in Tokyo. “We cannot let our guard down.”
Electricity is needed to help circulate cooling water and keep the nuclear fuel rods from overheating and end the world’s largest nuclear crisis in 25 years. Tokyo Electric will stop workers from conducting similar work that led to today’s accident, said Sakae Moto, a company vice president.
Tokyo authorities today started handing out bottled water to families after determining that tap water may be unsafe for babies.