Japan Nuclear Pool Near Boiling Point

Work resumes at stricken plant
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 22, 2011 4:45 AM CDT
Japan Nuclear Crisis: Fukushima Nuclear Pool Near Boiling Point
Gray smoke rises from Unit 3 of the tsunami-stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okumamachi, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan yesterday.   (AP Photo/Tokyo Electric Power Co.)

Workers resumed efforts to bring Japan's Fukushima nuclear complex under control today but a pool for storing spent fuel at the plant has presented yet another problem, AP reports. A nuclear safety official says the pool is heating up and temperatures are at or near the boiling point. The pool is believed to be the source of steam that has risen from Fukushima's second unit since yesterday and if the water bubbles away, fuel rods will be exposed and more radiation will be released. Smoke from a damaged reactor forced workers to evacuate yesterday. (More Fukushima Daiichi stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X