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Environment
Greenpeace Concerned: Potential Impact of Typhoon Wipha on Fukushima Plant
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Tokyo- (PanOrient News) Greenpeace expressed concern over news reports that Typhoon Wipha could bring heavy rain and high waves to the Fukushima coast describing it a "new threat" to the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. They have called on the Japanese government to take effective action in preparing for this potential danger.
Hisayo Takada, Greenpeace Japan climate and energy campaigner, said in a statement released by the organization that, "this new threat from Typhoon Wipha shows the urgent need for the Japanese government to take firmer control of the ongoing disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. In order for Japan to fulfill its international responsibilities, Greenpeace calls on the extraordinary Diet session that started today to give first priority to Fukushima, including handling the continuing threat of contaminated water.”
The threat posed by Typhoon Wipha comes only three months after Fukushima operator TEPCO admitted that outflows of radioactively contaminated water have been going into the ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power. "TEPCO has proven incapable of handling the situation", the statment said.
When heavy rain caused by Typhoon No. 18 hit the Fukushima power plant in September, TEPCO discharged contaminated rainwater containing low levels of radioactive strontium into the sea, according to the statement.
“It is unacceptable that TEPCO deliberately discharged radioactive water into the ocean,” said Takada. “Clearly the government needs to be doing much more to deal with this ongoing disaster to protect the ocean environment by preventing any further leaks of radioactivity that could be driven by Typhoon Wipha.”
The Japan Meteorological Agency said Tuesday that the powerful typhoon, was the strongest to hit eastern Japan in 10 years. The agency had warned of strong winds, high waves and heavy rain from Tuesday to Wednesday in wide areas from western to northern Japan, cautioning against extensive disruption of public transportation in rush hours Wednesday morning.
Photo: Courtesy of TEPCO
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