The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant said Tuesday it had shut down a key decontamination system used to clean radiation-tainted water, just hours after it came back online. Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) switched off its Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) after workers discovered leaks "seeping" from a tank late Monday. About eight litres (2.1 gallons) of tainted water is believed to have leaked out, a company spokesman said. He added there was no immediate safety risk as the water had been recovered. The suspension came just six hours after the embattled operator switched back on two of three lines in the system, which cleans radiation-tainted water used to cool the reactors damaged by Japan's devastating 2011 quake-tsunami disaster. The whole system had been shut down last Wednesday after TEPCO discovered a defect. The firm has repeatedly switched the system off over a series of glitches since trial operations began a year ago. TEPCO is struggling to handle a huge -- and growing -- volume of contaminated water at Fukushima following the quake-tsunami, which sparked the worst atomic crisis in a generation as well as sweeping away some 18,000 victims. Giant waves crashed into the plant, sparking reactor meltdowns and explosions. Cleaning up the shattered site is expected to take decades. There are about 436,000 cubic metres of contaminted water stored at the site in about 1,200 purpose-built tanks. Many experts say that at some point the water will have to be released into the sea after being scrubbed of the most harmfulcontaminants. They say it will pose a negligible risk to marine life or people, but local fishermen and neighbouring countries are fiercely opposed.
GMT 13:29 2018 Monday ,01 January
Serbia launches probe after toxic waste dumped near BelgradeGMT 19:03 2017 Thursday ,28 December
Pregnant elephant 'poisoned' in Indonesian palm plantationGMT 16:26 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Nepal's two last known dancing bears rescued: officialsGMT 10:51 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Florida orange industry hit by hurricane, diseaseGMT 09:09 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Modern-day amber 'Klondikes' thrive in troubled UkraineGMT 19:23 2017 Saturday ,23 December
Indonesian pangolin faces extinction due to traffickingGMT 11:37 2017 Friday ,22 December
Global warming may boost asylum-seekers in Europe: studyGMT 07:32 2017 Friday ,22 December
Modern-day Mowgli: Indian toddler forges bond with monkeysMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor