The DOST-PNRI continues to closely monitor the situation at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Unit 1
Some instrumentations have been restored.
Unit 2
Off-site electrical power has been connected to an auxiliary transformer and distribution panels. Work continues toward energizing specific equipment;
White smoke disappeared from Unit 2; and
Workers began pumping seawater into the spent fuel pool.
Unit 3
White smoke emerging from the reactor is less intense; and
Spraying water on spent fuel pool is finished.
Unit 4
Japanese Self Defense Forces began spraying water into the building.
Units 5 and 6
External power restored;
Achieved cold shutdown; and
Spent fuel pool temperatures are now normal.
Overall, the situation at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants is improving. Radiation levels are within the range that allows workers to continue onsite recovery activities.
Dose rates in Tokyo and other areas outside the 30-kilometre zone remain below levels which would require any protective action. The dose rates in major cities are as follows:
Mito, Ibaraki: 161 nanosieverts per hour
Shinjuku, Tokyo: 46 nanosieverts per hour
Ichihara, Chiba: 33 nanosieverts per hour
Saitama, Saitama: 54 nanosieverts per hour
Utsunomiya, Tochigi: 141 nanosieverts per hour
The above values are not significantly different from background.
Although levels of radioactive iodine and cesium have been reported to be above the allowed levels in some food items in areas near Fukushima, these levels were not detected in other areas in Japan.
The Food and Drugs Administration (DOH) in coordination with the DOST-PNRI is already measuring baseline radioactivity levels in food samples imported from Japan.
For the latest information on on-site and off-site radiological situations about the Fukushima accident, please access the following websites:
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) website (www.iaea.org); and
Latest DOST-PNRI RADIATION LEVEL CHECK at PNRI grounds as of 3:00 PM, March 20, 2011: 95-119 nSv/hr (nanosieverts per hour); in other areas in Metro Manila as of 18 March 2011: 74-114 nSv/hr
The DOST-PNRI continues to closely monitor the situation at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The situation, while unstable, is under control and not worsening.
Power lines from the electric grid have been connected to the reactors with ongoing efforts to start the cooling pumps, which would greatly improve the situation.
Daily modeling studies indicate that the radiological plume is still to the Pacific Coast direction, northeast of Japan, and therefore will not affect the Philippines in the next three (3) days.
DOST-PNRI calculations show that even if the plume reaches the Philippine territory, the dose is still below the allowable limit for the public and is considered safe.
Results of the monitoring team by the IAEA show no traces of radioactive iodine and cesium in Tokyo. The radiation levels measured in Tokyo and in nearby cities remain not harmful to human health.
Current radiation dose rate at the Fukushima site remains around 0.3 mSv/hr. World Health Organization (WHO) authorities have stated that people outside the 30-km zone are safe.
The International Civil Aviation Organization, in consultation with the IAEA and a number of other international organizations, said that international flights and maritime operations can continue normal operations into and out of Japan’s major airports and sea ports and there is no medical basis for imposing additional measures to protect passengers.
Evacuation is kept within the 20-km radius while sheltering remains at 30-km radius from the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants.
The assessment of the accident at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants has been uprated by the Japanese Authorities from Level 4 to Level 5 under the International Nuclear Events Scale (INES). Level 5 is defined as an "accident with wider consequences". Level 5 has the same classification as the Three Mile Island accident, while the Chernobyl accident was at Level 7 and very unlikely to happen in this situation.
For the latest information on on-site and off-site radiological situations about the Fukushima accident, please access the following websites:
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) website (www.iaea.org); and
The DOST-PNRI continues to closely monitor the situation in Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Japanese Authorities have informed the IAEA that engineers tried to restore electrical power to Unit 2 by laying external grid power lines. The cable laying was completed at 4:30PM (Philippine time), 17 March 2011.
The current situations of the damaged reactor cores of Units 1, 2, and 3 appear to be under control. The core of Unit 4 did not contain any fuel at the time of the earthquake. The undamaged reactor cores of Units 5 and 6 are being closely monitored.
Spent fuels under storage remain a safety concern. Japanese Authorities are attempting to replenish water in the spent fuel storage pools.
Evacuation within the 20-km radius around Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants has been completed while sheltering remains at 30-km radius from the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants.
Japanese Authorities have informed the IAEA that radiation levels in Tokyo and in nearby cities have dropped slightly. The levels remain not harmful to human health.
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano has flown to Tokyo to discuss with Japanese Authorities the nature of assistance IAEA can deliver to the Japanese Government and to further discuss the means to coordinate the flow of information.
For further advisories, please call the PNRI trunklines with Tel Nos. 929-6010 to 19 or visit the following websites:
Daily modelling studies are being carried-out by PNRI. Based on the latest calculations, there is no risk of the Philippines being affected by the radiological plume. The public is advised therefore not to be unduly alarmed about exposure to radiation arising from the Fukushima accident.
Latest DOST-PNRI RADIATION LEVEL CHECK as of 3:00 PM, March 17, 2011: 87 - 107 nSv (nanoSievert) per hour.
The DOST-PNRI is continuing to monitor the status of the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plants;
According to Japanese authorities as they informed the IAEA, white smoke was seen emanating from Unit 3 around 1:00 UTC, 16 March 2011.
The evacuation is kept at 20km radius zone while sheltering is being implemented at 30km radius from the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plants.
Units 1, 2, and 3 are being maintained shutdown while Unit 4 remains in shutdown state prior to earthquake.
No significant levels of radioisotopes of iodine and cesium have been detected near Tokyo area.
For the latest information on on-site and off-site radiological situations about the Fukushima accident, please access the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) website: www.iaea.org.
No radioactive plume will reach the Philippine territorial seas within the next 24 hours which requires offsite response or monitoring in affected areas.
Daily modelling studies are being conducted by PNRI. Its simulations and those carried out by the World Meteorological Organization-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres for Environmental Emergency Response in Tokyo and Melbourne have shown that at such a distance, there is no risk of the Philippines being affected by the radiological plume. The public is advised therefore not to be unduly alarmed about exposure to radiation arising from the Fukushima accident.
Even on a direct hit scenario, DOST-PNRI declares that even on a worst case scenario, there is no risk of the Philippines and its population being affected by the radiological plume. The public is advised therefore to remain calm.
Latest DOST-PNRI RADIATION LEVEL CHECK as of 3:00 PM, March 16, 2011: 90-112 nSv (nanoSievert) per hour.
For reporting of nuclear/radiological emergencies, you may contact the Radiological Impact Assessment Section/Nuclear Response Support Center of the PNRI through (632) 929-6011 to 19 local 285 or 311
