Japan’s bravehearts enter damaged nuclear plant

Tokyo, May 5: Japan has been lauded for its resilience and bravery in the face of the biggest natural calamity it was subject to in recent times in the form of the devastating tsunami and the massive earthquake preceding it. They are taking the undying spirit a notch further when workers entered the damaged nuclear power plant on Thursday to carry out repairs, the country's nuclear safety agency revealed.

The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said that the workers entered the damaged plant in an effort to connect ventilation equipment in Unit 1 so that it absorbs radiation from the air within the building. The work is expected to last at least four or five days. This important task has to be done on order to install a cooling system that was rendered damaged in the Mar 11 earthquake and the subsequent tsunami. The incident left more than 25,000 people dead and thousands missing in the northeastern coast of Japan.

The series of explosions crippled the already damaged plant causing fear in the minds of people in the vicinity. There were intense concerns also on the emission of radioactive gases as a result of the explosion that caused physical damage to the building. Mid-April saw a recording of 50 millisieverts per hour within Unit 1's reactor building that was considered harmful for humans. These recordings were made by robots.

Fresh recordings collected by the robots on Friday showed a decline in radiation levels being safe for workers to enter, according to Tepco spokesman, Taisuke Tomikawa. The two workers entered the building at around 11:30 am (0230GMT) for about 25 minutes. Tomikawa claimed that the workers were exposed to 2 millisieverts during that time.

The workers equipped with protective gear, masks and an air tank set out to the nuclear plant, according to an official at the Nuclear Safety and Industrial Agency. A temporary tent was installed outside the building to prevent radioactive air from escaping.

OneIndia News