# 5394
Amid fresh reports of more problems (see the report at bottom of this blog entry) at one or more Japanese nuclear reactors in the wake of Friday’s devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake of the coast of Honshu, we get this latest update from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).
Japanese Earthquake Update (14 March, 15:35 CET)
by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday, March 14, 2011 at 10:39am
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Japanese authorities have reported to the IAEA that Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 has experienced decreasing coolant levels in the reactor core. Officials have begun to inject sea water into the reactor to maintain cooling of the reactor core.
Sea water injections into Units 1 and 3 were interrupted yesterday due to a low level in a sea water supply reservoir, but sea water injections have now been restored at both units.
Evacuation Status
On 12 March, the Japanese Prime Minister ordered the evacuation of residents living within 10 kilometres of the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant and within 20 kilometres of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) has reported that about 185,000 residents had been evacuated from the towns listed below as of 13 March, 17:00 (JST).
Populations of evacuated towns near the affected nuclear power
Hirono-cho 5,387
Naraha-cho 7,851
Tomioka-cho 15,786
Okuma-cho 11,186
Futaba-cho 6,936
Namie-cho 20,695
Tamura-shi 41,428
Minamisouma-shi 70,975
Kawauchi-mura 2,944
Kuzuo-mura 1,482
Total 184,670
Iodine Distribution
Japan has distributed 230,000 units of stable iodine to evacuation centres from the area around Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini nuclear power plants, according to officials. The iodine has not yet been administered to residents; the distribution is a precautionary measure in the event that this is determined to be necessary.
The ingestion of stable iodine can help to prevent the accumulation of radioactive iodine in the thyroid.
Weather forecast
In partnership with the World Meteorological Organization, the IAEA is continuing to monitor weather forecasts and is providing updates to member states. Since the incident began, winds have been moving away from the Japanese coast to the East, and predictions call for the same patterns to persist for the next three days.
The IAEA continues to liaise with the Japanese authorities and is monitoring the situation as it evolves
Meanwhile, NHK World News is reporting that the fuel rods at the Fukushima #2 reactor are fully exposed, and there are fears that a melt-down may be occurring.
TEPCO:Fuel rods exposed at Fukushima reactor
updated at 13:40 UTC, Mar. 14
Tokyo Electric Power Company is battling to cool a reactor to prevent another explosion at its nuclear power plant in quake-hit Fukushima Prefecture.
The utility firm said on Monday afternoon that fuel rods are exposed at the Number Two reactor of its Fukushima Number One plant after the level of coolant water dropped. At around 6:20pm, the power company began pumping in seawater.
Tokyo Electric says it had to halt the process due to fuel loss for the pumping system, possibly leaving the fuel rods in the reactor exposed. The firm says a core meltdown might have occurred.
