Uploaded March 2011 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
"(It's) the beginning of the catastrophic phase... Maybe we have to pray", said President of the Society for Radiation Protection Sebastian Pflugbeil
A spokesman for the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan has admitted the situation is now considered to be "severe".
"This is a severe incident that is occurring right now," the spokesman said at a news conference.
"We have vented and used seawater as cooling, followed the accident management plan but this is a very severe operation."
The admission comes as plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) continues attempts to stop the six-reactor Fukushima 1 complex from going into nuclear meltdown.
"We have to keep cooling the fuel so it doesn't reach criticality," the Tepco spokesman said, adding that radiation levels have barely fallen at the site.
The UK's chief scientific officer John Beddington explained that spent nuclear rods were stored in 'ponds', which kept them cool.
"The pond in rector four is the cause of very considerable concern. What has happened is that this has been damaged by explosions and is leaking very fast.
"We've had reports that it has gone dry."
Despite earlier warnings, American President Barack Obama said he did not expect harmful radiation from Japan's nuclear crisis to reach the US.
"We have vented and used seawater as cooling, followed the accident management plan but this is a very severe operation."
The admission comes as plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) continues attempts to stop the six-reactor Fukushima 1 complex from going into nuclear meltdown.
"We have to keep cooling the fuel so it doesn't reach criticality," the Tepco spokesman said, adding that radiation levels have barely fallen at the site.
The UK's chief scientific officer John Beddington explained that spent nuclear rods were stored in 'ponds', which kept them cool.
"The situation has changed," he said.
(It's) the beginning of the catastrophic phase... Maybe we have to pray", said President of the Society for Radiation Protection Sebastian Pflugbeil
"The pond in rector four is the cause of very considerable concern. What has happened is that this has been damaged by explosions and is leaking very fast.
"We've had reports that it has gone dry."
Despite earlier warnings, American President Barack Obama said he did not expect harmful radiation from Japan's nuclear crisis to reach the US.
Meanwhile, international energy authorities and other nations voiced concerns over the situation at the Fukushima plant north-east of Tokyo.
Japanese Chinook helicopters - reportedly fitted with lead radiation shields - attempted to dump tons of seawater into cooling ponds to prevent spent fuel overheating.
Operators working in short shifts also pumped water into the reactor cores.
The International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) said that while concerns persisted, the situation appeared to be stable.
A police riot control water cannon attempted to replenish the cooling pools but was withdrawn, while two military airport fire trucks continued afterwards.
Sebastian Pflugbeil, from the private German-based Society for Radiation Protection, said Japan's efforts at Fukushima 1 plant signalled "the beginning of the catastrophic phase".
news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Video---Japan-Global-Energy-Authorities-Voice-Concerns-Over-Situation-At-Fukushima-Nuclear-Plant/Article/201103315953955?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15953955_Video_-_Japan%3A_Global_Energy_Authorities_Voice_Concerns_Over_Situation_At_Fukushima_Nuclear_Plant
*FAIR USE STATEMENT* For educational, non-commercial purposes only. Please see my channel home page for more info.
Thanks OilFlorida for finding this UK story.
"(It's) the beginning of the catastrophic phase... Maybe we have to pray", said President of the Society for Radiation Protection Sebastian Pflugbeil
A spokesman for the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan has admitted the situation is now considered to be "severe".
"This is a severe incident that is occurring right now," the spokesman said at a news conference.
"We have vented and used seawater as cooling, followed the accident management plan but this is a very severe operation."
The admission comes as plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) continues attempts to stop the six-reactor Fukushima 1 complex from going into nuclear meltdown.
"We have to keep cooling the fuel so it doesn't reach criticality," the Tepco spokesman said, adding that radiation levels have barely fallen at the site.
The UK's chief scientific officer John Beddington explained that spent nuclear rods were stored in 'ponds', which kept them cool.
"The pond in rector four is the cause of very considerable concern. What has happened is that this has been damaged by explosions and is leaking very fast.
"We've had reports that it has gone dry."
Despite earlier warnings, American President Barack Obama said he did not expect harmful radiation from Japan's nuclear crisis to reach the US.
"We have vented and used seawater as cooling, followed the accident management plan but this is a very severe operation."
The admission comes as plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) continues attempts to stop the six-reactor Fukushima 1 complex from going into nuclear meltdown.
"We have to keep cooling the fuel so it doesn't reach criticality," the Tepco spokesman said, adding that radiation levels have barely fallen at the site.
The UK's chief scientific officer John Beddington explained that spent nuclear rods were stored in 'ponds', which kept them cool.
"The situation has changed," he said.
(It's) the beginning of the catastrophic phase... Maybe we have to pray", said President of the Society for Radiation Protection Sebastian Pflugbeil
"The pond in rector four is the cause of very considerable concern. What has happened is that this has been damaged by explosions and is leaking very fast.
"We've had reports that it has gone dry."
Despite earlier warnings, American President Barack Obama said he did not expect harmful radiation from Japan's nuclear crisis to reach the US.
Meanwhile, international energy authorities and other nations voiced concerns over the situation at the Fukushima plant north-east of Tokyo.
Japanese Chinook helicopters - reportedly fitted with lead radiation shields - attempted to dump tons of seawater into cooling ponds to prevent spent fuel overheating.
Operators working in short shifts also pumped water into the reactor cores.
The International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) said that while concerns persisted, the situation appeared to be stable.
A police riot control water cannon attempted to replenish the cooling pools but was withdrawn, while two military airport fire trucks continued afterwards.
Sebastian Pflugbeil, from the private German-based Society for Radiation Protection, said Japan's efforts at Fukushima 1 plant signalled "the beginning of the catastrophic phase".
news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Video---Japan-Global-Energy-Authorities-Voice-Concerns-Over-Situation-At-Fukushima-Nuclear-Plant/Article/201103315953955?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15953955_Video_-_Japan%3A_Global_Energy_Authorities_Voice_Concerns_Over_Situation_At_Fukushima_Nuclear_Plant
*FAIR USE STATEMENT* For educational, non-commercial purposes only. Please see my channel home page for more info.
Thanks OilFlorida for finding this UK story.
