Tokyo Electric Power Company announced Monday that the earthquake ravaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has been leaking radioactive water. The company estimated 220 tons of contaminated water has been released from a crack in a barrier around an evaporative condensation apparatus. The apparatus purifies sea water that is used to cool nuclear reactors.
The leak likely began early Sunday morning, because a check on Saturday did not uncover any problems. TEPCO said sand bags stacked against the barrier stopped up the crack. The company is now focusing on determining if any radioactive water has reached the Pacific Ocean.
Fukushima Daiichi has been battling major problems since its reactors were damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. It is the worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
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