Work resumes at Japan plant - sea contamination feared

Tokyo - The operator of a troubled nuclear power plant in north-eastern Japan resumed efforts on Tuesday to restore power at reactors a day after gray smoke from a reactor building halted their efforts, the government said.

Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) did not expect the smoke to prevent their work, public broadcaster NHK reported. Meanwhile, TEPCO said radioactive substances were detected in seawater near the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant, which was damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Japanese military vehicles and a Tokyo Fire Department trucks were to resume their cooling operation, which involves showering water over overheating reactors 3 and 4 after their efforts were suspended due to the smoke.

The smoke seen pouring from the reactor 3 building forced workers to suspend operations on Monday aimed at restoring power at the sixreactor plant, 250 kilometres north-east of Tokyo. Later it appeared to have stopped, but “what seems to be white hazy smoke” was still rising from the building, Kyodo News reported early Tuesday. Smoke was also seen at reactor 2, but the plant’s operator said it was believed to be steam.

Kyodo reported “white-steam like vapor” was still coming out from reactor 2 in the morning. Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa told reporters the smoke from reactor 3 was likely from burning debris while the “smoke” from reactor 2 was steam. External power was connected late Monday to reactor 1, TEPCO said. External power is now available for reactors 1, 2, 5 and 6.

But the reactors are still in a “tough” situation, Industry Minister Banri Kaieda said, while Prime Minister Naoto Kan told reporters the efforts to cope with the nuclear crisis were “moving forward slowly.” Meanwhile, TEPCO said radioactive iodine at levels 126.7 times higher than the legal limit and radioactive cesium 24.8 times higher were detected in seawater near the plant.

click to enlarge SUSPECT: Japanese organic farmer Hideto Yajima worries about possible radioactive contamination as he looks at leafy vegetables on his farm in Isumi city, Chiba province, 60 kilometers east of Tokyo, Japan. Tests found levels of radioactive iodine up to seven times the legal limit in spinach and two leaf vegetables in Chiba prefecture, known for its high quality organic agriculture. © EPA/EVERETT KENNEDY BROWN