A suspected breach in the reactor core at one unit of a stricken Fukushima nuclear plant could mean more serious radioactive contamination, Japanese officials said Friday, March 25, revealing what may prove a major setback in the mission to bring the leaking plant under control.
The uncertain situation halted work Friday at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex, where dozens had been working feverishly to stop the overheated plant from leaking dangerous radiation, officials said.
Suspicions of a possible breach were raised when two workers waded into water 10,000 more radioactive than normal and suffered skin burns, the Nuclear and Industry Safety Agency said. However, though damage cannot be ruled out, the cause remained unclear, spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama told reporters.
"It is possible there may be damage somewhere in the reactor," he said, adding later that there was no data suggesting there were any cracks and that a leak in the plumbing or the vents could be to blame, AP reports.
