Big quake near Fukushima would decimate Japan, lead to US West Coast evacuation Published: Nov 6, 2013, 03:21 PM The stricken nuclear plant at Fukushima in northern Japan is in such a delicate condition that a future earthquake could trigger a disaster that would decimate Japan and affect the entire West Coast of North America, a prominent scientist has warned. Speaking at a symposium on water ecology at the University of Alberta in Canada, prominent Japanese-Canadian scientist David Suzuki said that the Japanese government had been lying through its teeth about the true extent of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. He attributed the cover-up to the Japanese governments collusion with the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) that administers the plant. Fukushima is the most terrifying situation that I can imagine, Suzuki said, adding that another earthquake could trigger a potentially catastrophic, nuclear disaster. The fourth [reactor] has been so badly damaged that the fear is if theres another earthquake of a 7 or above then that building will go and all hell breaks loose, he said, adding that the chances of an earthquake measuring 7 or above in Japan over the next three years were over 95 percent. If the fourth [reactor] goes under an earthquake and those rods are exposed, then its bye, bye, Japan and everybody on the west coast of North America should be evacuated. And if that isnt terrifying, I dont know what is, Suzuki said. Too proud Addressing the Japanese governments attempts to bring the crisis under control, Suzuki said the scientists charged with the plants safety dont know what to do. The thing we need is to let a group of international experts go in with complete freedom to do what they suggest, Suzuki said, adding that the only thing impeding this was the pride of the Japanese government that was refusing to admit this was necessary. Suzuki referred to the current scheme of freezing the soil around the reactor to prevent radioactive leaks as cockamany. Suzuki, a prominent environmental campaigner and scientist from the University of British Columbia, whose television science programs and books have gained a wide international audience, has been very vocal in his criticisms of Japan in its handling of the disaster. TEPCO has accepted the US governments help in undertaking the risky cleanup operation of the Fukushima site. Teams of experts will begin the removal of fuel rods from the fourth reactor in mid-November in a decommissioning process that is likely to take decades. One wrong move in the delicate operation could result in horrific quantities of radiation being released into the atmosphere or trigger a massive explosion.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 11:55:02 +0000
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