Continue to spray water on Fukushima 1 power plant

Early this morning (March 21), fire trucks resumed water spraying operations at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, continuing efforts to cool the fuel pools of the nuclear reactors.

This is the fifth consecutive day that the reactors at the Fukushima 1 plant have been sprayed with cooling water in an unprecedented mission by the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Since March 17, about 3,700 tons of water have been sprayed on reactor No. 3 alone to cool its fuel pool. Tons of seawater have also been sprayed on other reactors at Fukushima No. 1.

Japanese firefighters spray water to cool reactor No. 3
Fukushima nuclear power plant on March 18. Photo: AFP

Previously, the restoration of power supply at reactors 2 and 5 from March 20 allowed Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the nuclear power plant, to restore radiation monitoring systems and data, illuminate the control room, and cool the reactors and spent fuel pools.

Meanwhile, on March 20, Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said the temperature of all six nuclear reactors at Fukushima No. 1 plant had dropped below 100 degrees Celsius.

However, by the end of the day, the temperature at reactor number 3 had risen to 128 degrees Celsius, but this temperature was still within the "allowable range."

Regarding the issue of radioactive contamination, on March 21, the Japanese Government advised people not to drink water from the water source in Iitatemura village, about 40km from Fukushima No. 1 power plant, after discovering water contaminated with radioactive iodine (iondine).

The country's Ministry of Health said the radiation level measured was 965 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive iodine. Although this level has not yet had an immediate impact on human health, the ministry still asked people to take precautions.

According to the latest statistics, the number of people killed and missing due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has reached 21,359 people, of which the confirmed death toll is 8,450 people.

A Miyagi prefectural official predicted the death toll in the prefecture could even reach 15,000.

Rescue teams from around the world continue to dig through the rubble in the hope of finding survivors. However, that hope is fading with each passing day.

Relief goods, including blankets, food, generators... from many countries and territories continue to pour into the country of these resilient people.

According to VNA