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More Bad News From Fukushima

Posted by samzenpus on from the from-bad-to-worse dept.

PuceBaboon writes "Both Reuters and the BBC are carrying the story of an increase in radiation levels reported by Tepco for contaminated water leaking from storage tanks on site. When this leak was discovered almost two weeks ago, Tepco reported that the radiation level was 100-millisieverts. It now transpires that 100-millisieverts was the highest reading that the measuring equipment in use was capable of displaying. The latest readings (with upgraded equipment) are registering 1800-millisieverts which, according to both news sources, could prove fatal to anyone exposed to it for four hours. Coincidentally (and somewhat ironically), today is earthquake disaster prevention day in Japan, with safety drills taking place nationwide."

8 of 268 comments (clear)

  1. Where were the professionals. by PlusFiveTroll · · Score: 5, Insightful

    -Tepco reported that the radiation level was 100-millisieverts. It now transpires that 100-millisieverts was the highest reading that the measuring equipment in use was capable of displaying.

    What the actual fuck. How could such a stupid mistake be made?

    1. Re:Where were the professionals. by tuo42 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That's what I was thinkng also!

      Then again, it is a very interesting way of damage control. Simply bring equipment which can only measure up to the damage level we want.

      I cannot understand how a company can make such a mistake. This is the most severe radioactive problem at the moment, threatening to change a country for the next decades.

      They know how important this is, and fail to bring along the right equipment?

      Unbelievable...

    2. Re:Where were the professionals. by Sqr(twg) · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just wait a few weeks until they find out that 1800 mSv is the maximum reading on the new instrument.

    3. Re:Where were the professionals. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      It is all intentional and just a big game of what they can cover up and with which lies they can get away with.
      The whole Fukushima operation is just a big scam with Tepco and the government as key players.
      The current LDP government is financially supported by all major Japanese companies that are heavily involved in the nuclear industry.
      That was a very lucrative business because there were hardly any rules that could not be bend but that has all gone bad after the Fukushima disaster.
      The main objective for Tepco and the LDP prime minister is to get nuclear energy accepted again.
      Although there are many accidents and false reports, the national media does not pay much attention, fearing the wrath of the LDP patry and some of the major companies here in Japan. But that doesn't differ much from the US I guess.
      Also, the national television company is just another propaganda media outlet but may Japanese are not aware of this fact.

      Japan has a long history of cover-ups when the government and major Japanese companies are involved.

    4. Re:Where were the professionals. by Joce640k · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Tepco needs to be taken out of the equation. Now.

      (Though they can still pay the cleanup bill...)

      --
      No sig today...
    5. Re:Where were the professionals. by polar+red · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Humanity has a long history of cover-ups when big organisations are involved.

      FTFY

      --
      Yes, I'm left. You have a problem with that?
  2. Argh. That's not a radiation level. by Beryllium+Sphere(tm) · · Score: 5, Informative

    1800 millisieverts is a dose, not a level. It's as basic a mistake as confusing feet with feet per second.

    From other sources, it's a logical guess that what's meant is millisieverts per hour but an article should not make the reader guess what it means.

  3. This was NOT mistake. by boorack · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It was deliberate, somewhat shortsighted lie. This is how every fuckin big fat corporation behaves these days. It is worse than communism. Just compare Fukushima fiasco to old commies handling Chernobyl. They did everything they could to NOT let this crap hit watertable. They've put liquid nitrogen injecting installation under the reactor to make sure it won't burn through the basement and won't contaminate ground waters. They've put 600 thousands people to work to clean up their mess (every man for one minute or so). Compare this to the crap, lies, corruption and cost cuttings TEPCO is doing on their site. Our corporate fascist system is failing us badly and if we won't put them all in check soon, consequences of their misdeeds, greed and corruption will hit us hard.