Fukushima alert level to be upgraded

The leak alert level is to be upgraded from level one to level three

By Nicole Hamer |

12:57 21 August 2013

Japan is to upgrade the threat level of toxic water leaking at the Fukushima nuclear plant from level one to level three.

Based on reports, authorities in Japan relate to the problem as being level three ‘serious incident’.

It is understood that highly toxic water was found to be leaking from a storage tank at the plant.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has said the leak is approximately 300tonnes, and it is being regarded as the most serious since the natural disaster over two years ago.

This relates to March 2011 when the quake and tsunami resulted in a loss of power to the cooling system at the plant. There were three reactors that melted down as a result of the quake and tsunami hitting.

It is understood that water is applied to the reactors.

Based on reports contaminated water has to be stored in tanks on site.

The news on the upgrade will be the first time that Japan has stated an instance on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) scale since the afore mentioned quake and tsunami.

Tepco has reported that a puddle around the tank was emitting 100millisieverts per hour of radiation, but that work was being done to address the situation and mop up the leaked water, The Telegraph has reported in one report.