New Fukushima Leak Seeps More Radiation into Pacific

04-06-2012 • http://www.commondreams.org, Common Dreams staff

Fukushima's plant operator TEPCO announced today that about 12 tons of water contaminated with radiation has leaked from the plant. Sources are saying that much of the water has leaked into the Pacific ocean, making this the second major leak in two weeks.

TEPCO believes most of the water flowed into the Pacific Ocean. It says the contaminated water leaked from a treatment pipe.

"Our officials confirmed that cooling water leaked at a joint in the pipes," a TEPCO spokesman said. "It is possible that part of the water may have flowed outside the facility and poured into the ocean".

The leak has now been 'plugged', as officials continue to assess the damage and new levels of radiation in the water.

About 12 tonnes of radioactive water has leaked at Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, with the facility's operator saying Thursday that some may have flowed into the Pacific Ocean.