Philippine Nuclear Research Institute

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident in Japan INFORMATION BULLETIN No. 5 (16 March 2011 Update as of 11:00 AM)

All reactor vessels of Units 1,2 and 3 remain intact . Containment vessels for Units 1 and 3 are also intact. And while the suppression chamber of Unit 2 is damaged, the rest of its containment unit remain intact.

Condition of cooling systems in Unit 1, 2 and 3 of the Daiichi reactors still not normal but under control.

There are no indications that spent fuel assemblies in the storage ponds in all Units have been exposed.

Current weather information continues to indicate that wind patterns coming from the Japan Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant have been moving away from the Japan coast towards the East. This would mean that winds which may carry any radioactive materials from the affected nuclear plants will not affect any part of the Philippines. The same wind patterns are predicted for the next three days.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in coordination with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is monitoring the weather situation at the affected nuclear plants and the possible effects on neighboring countries. The WMO is providing data to the IAEA using its Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers in Asia based in Beijing, China; Tokyo, Japan; and Obninsk, Russia. The information is provided to the IAEA and national meteorological and hydrological services in order to provide advice to the respective government agencies which manage nuclear safety and nuclear emergency response activities. In the Philippines, the WMO provides information to the PAGASA which provides advice to the DOST-PNRI, NDRRMC and other agencies regarding wind patterns.

The DOST-PNRI is continuing to monitor the situation in Japan with the help of information being isseminated on a 24-hour basis by the IAEA. This arrangement is part of requirements under the International Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident. The Philippines is a party to this Convention which entitles the country to early receipt of relevant information of nuclear accidents occurring in neighboring countries. Japan continues to provide detailed information to the IAEA which in turn distributes these to countries on a 24-hour basis through its national contact persons, which in the Philippines is the Director of the DOST-PNRI.

In spite of latest reports of fire on the spent fuel storage facility and release of radioactivity and another explosion on a third nuclear plant, the situation remains the same as far as the effect on the Philippines is concerned. Any significant effect is limited only within the power station boundary and immediate vicinity.

The DOST-PNRI emphasizes that there remains no immediate threat to the Philippines.

Latest DOST-PNRI RADIATION LEVEL CHECK : As of 9:00 AM March 16, 2011 89–120 nSv (nanoSievert) per hour.

At 5:30 am Manila Time the IAEA reported an explosion at Unit 2 of the Daiichi Reactor that damaged the suppression chamber of the primary containment vessel. The event resulted in the momentary increase of radiation level measured at 8 milliesievert per hour.

At 12:50 pm Manila Time, the IAEA reported the incidence of an earlier fire that occurred at the building where the spent fuel storage pond of Unit 4 of the Daiichii nuclear power plant is located. According to the Embassy of Japan the same fire was put out before 10:00am, today. The event resulted in the release of radiation at a dose rate of at 400 millisievert per hour.

As the events remain contained on site, persons who have been evacuated from the 30 km zone are considered safe.

As per information from TEPCO, the cooling problems of Units 1, 2, and 3 are under control.

Containments for Unit 1 and 3 are also intact. And while the suppression chamber of Unit 2 is damaged, the rest of its containment unit remains intact.

The DOST –PNRI emphasizes that there remains no immediate threat to the Philippines.

For more queries, pls call DOST-PNRI Emergency Response Center at 929-4719 or 920-8738 or 0917-278-3578 or log on to the following: http://www.dost.gov.ph, http://www.science.ph, or tweet@dost_pnri.

The DOST-PNRI is continuously closely monitoring the situation of the Fukushima-Daiichi Power Plants;

The IAEA Incident and Emergency Center has informed that an explosion was heard at Fukishima Daiichi Unit 2 at 2:10 UTC on March 14. The report also states that there is a possibility the suppression chamber may have been damaged due to this explosion. Further details are being awaited.

All 4 Units of the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants are still in shutdown condition;

At unit 1, plant operators were able to restore a residual heat remover system now being used to cool down the reactor core. Efforts are in progress to maintain cold shutdown of the reactor;

A hydrogen gas explosion that destroyed the roof of Unit 3 reactor building took place but there has been no notable change in the radiation levels observed in the boundaries of the power plants;

There is no scientific and technical basis that radioactive plume or nuclear fall-out from Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants will hit the territory of the Philippines within the next 24 hours;

Wind projection according to PAG-ASA states that wind in the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants is heading East of Japan towards the Pacific Coast and is definitely going thousands of kilometers away from the Philippine territorial seas as of 15 March 2011;

The public is strongly advised to call the PNRI trunklines with Tel Nos. 929-6010 to 19 and 920-8787 or refer to the DOST (www.dost.gov.ph), PNRI website (www.pnri.dost.gov.ph) and STII (swww.stii.dost.gov.ph) for further advisories.

The public is also advised to access the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) website for the latest development (www.iaea.org) of the incident. The IAEA is considered the international watchdog which issues verified information about the events happening in Fukushima.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo advises the public not to believe in rumor mongers and gossips regarding the alleged nuclear meltdown at “Fukuyama”, or some other place in Japan, and on radiation threatening to affect other places.

The advice circulating that people should stay indoors and to wear raincoats if they go outdoors has no basis and did not come from DOST or the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

DOST advises the public not to believe these rumors currently spreading through text messages, emails, the Internet, and other means of communication.

DOST also advises the public not to entertain these rumors and to stop forwarding said messages so as not to sow panic among the people.

DOST maintains a 24/7 link-up with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the highest authority on nuclear matters for advice on the current situation of the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Available data do not indicate any immediate threats to the Philippines.