A preliminary report from the atomic energy agency says Japan miscalculated the tsunami hazard, leading to meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. But the report praises the nation's response to the March disaster as 'exemplary.'
Reporting from Seoul—
Japan did not properly protect its nuclear plants against tsunami threats prior to the March 11 disaster that caused radiation to spew from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, a preliminary report released Wednesday by international nuclear experts concluded."The tsunami hazard for several sites was underestimated," according to a three-page summary released by a United Nations nuclear safety team probing the aftermath of a magnitude 9.0 earthquake that triggered a nearly 50-foot-high wall of water, deluging the plant.That miscalculation led to meltdowns in three of the facility's six reactors, which caused the release of harmful radioactive isotopes into the air, soil and seawater. The emergency prompted the evacuation of more than 80,000 residents.
The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency -- compiled by nuclear experts from a dozen nations, including the U.S., France, Russia and China -- blamed the tsunami for causing power outages that quickly caused the disaster to spiral out of control. Inspectors said waves believed to have reached 49 feet in height "overwhelmed" the atomic plant's defenses.
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View entire article here: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/fgw-japan-fukushima-report,0,90270.story
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