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Flashes followed by increased smoke/steam near Reactors No. 3 and 4 (VIDEO)

Published: June 17th, 2011 at 9:27 am ET
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TEPCO Reactor 4 SFP Large Release Fukushima Daiichi June 16, CompassNorthChicago, June 16, 2011:

Flashes at 1:45 in and 2:35 in

h/t Lucas Whitefield Hixson

Published: June 17th, 2011 at 9:27 am ET
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42 comments

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  1. Japan media reports on new daytime video showing steam rising from Reactors No. 2 and 3 — Asahi: “Under the steam are the reactors” (VIDEOS) September 27, 2011
  2. Smoke/steam pouring out of Reactor Units No. 2, 3, 4 (PHOTOS & VIDEOS) May 11, 2011
  3. “Unusual amount of smoke” billowing from Reactors No. 3 and 4 “nothing to be concerned about” says TEPCO, Japan gov’t May 11, 2011
  4. Dawn at Fukushima: Enhanced image exposes smoke/steam billowing from reactor buildings No. 2, 3, 4 (PHOTOS) May 11, 2011
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June 17th, 2011 | Tags: | Category: Audio/Video Clips, Reactor No. 3, Spent Fuel Pool No. 4
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42 comments to Flashes followed by increased smoke/steam near Reactors No. 3 and 4 (VIDEO)

  • farawayfan farawayfan
    June 17, 2011 at 9:48 am

    Sigh.

    Flashes=lights.

    Steam/smoke=steam. The reactor is constantly venting steam (which IMO is the real problem shown in this video, that thing is bubbling 24/7). This steam becomes visible under near fog-like conditions. Shortly after this video, fog/rain moves in. This happens almost every night.

    Not that it’s good, but this is not only sensationalist it’s now become repetitive.

    The bigger issue is constant steam release with potential radioactivity that we only see occasionally when conditions are just right.


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    • Godzilla
      June 17, 2011 at 2:53 pm

      I have to disagree, Faraway Fan. The night lights don’t flash, they remain constant. Also I’ve been watching at night occasionally, there haven’t been any large discharges of steam. I’ve seen fog occasionally, which distorts the entire image rather than right above a particular area immediately after flashing.

      This has me way more concerned than most of the recent news.


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  • BreadAndButter BreadAndButter
    June 17, 2011 at 9:51 am

    I wondered since yesterday why the 2 timelapse videos from midnight til 2:00 AM are still NOT available on the Tepco youtube channel.
    http://www.youtube.com/fuku1live
    Now I have at least an idea.


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  • joeb
    June 17, 2011 at 9:53 am

    So the situation continues to deteriorate – slow drip, fast drip, slow smoke, fast flashes and amongst it all, where are the one’s #1 nuclear ‘authorities’? Seems they’re either just wringing their hands or pretending business as usual.

    Jail them all – along with all the mad politicians in their pockets.

    A question for Japanese scientists:-

    “Is it honorable to promote or use a technology that you know has a fundamental weakness that would harm your fellow Japanese people?”

    Quote from Sawada-san:-

    “”Until we know how to safely dispose of the radioactive materials generated by nuclear plants, we should postpone these activities so as not to cause further harm to future generations,” he explained. “To do otherwise is simply an immoral act, and that is my belief, both as a scientist and as a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.”"

    Wise up people – no one is coming to your rescue.


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    • joeb
      June 17, 2011 at 10:03 am

      Correction:-

      “where are the world’s #1 nuclear ‘authorities’?”

      Not enough sleep; too much caffeine. Apologies.

      @farawayfan – agreed – those cams are largely a wind up. The deterioration is however, horrendously real.

      Where is the temporary containment whilst cool down occurs?

      NON-EXISTENT! Roll Chernobyl into Katrina into Haiti into Fukushima and a pattern of total disinterest in high places becomes more obvious by the day.


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  • moonshellblue moonshellblue
    June 17, 2011 at 9:56 am

    Fog and rain play a part but the flashes of light? Trucks? I don’t know but going criticality sure could play a part. http://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/TomiokaHukusima-Fukusima-Japan/forecasts/latest


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  • gonefission gonefission
    June 17, 2011 at 9:59 am

    They need to get some miniature Blimps and mount cameras to them a bit closer. Watching that Chernobyl video they were using small airships for aerial photography.
    I say to hell with the NFL I say we donate the tethered remote High def PTZ’s they wont be using this season for a good cause.


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    • lokay5
      June 17, 2011 at 5:38 pm

      gonefission, good idea! It’s off-season. The NFL doesn’t need ‘em. At this rate, maybe they’ll NEVER need ‘em.

      NFL in this case stands for “Not For Long”


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  • Whoopie Whoopie
    June 17, 2011 at 10:23 am

    Shocking:
    FOX news is raising the red flag about a 48% spike in Philadelph­ia infant deaths since Philly drinking water tests showed the highest levels of Japan nuclear radiation in the nation.
    http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2011/06/17/fox-japan-nuclear-radiation-killing-babies-philadelphia-deaths-rate-spikes-48-percent-radiation-detected-drinking-water-28441/


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  • xdrfox
    June 17, 2011 at 10:24 am

    Maybe as before, A Bobcat (a utility vehicle machine used in construction = skid loader) http://www.bobcat.com/ , that has lighting on it as headlights and work lights, dropping the scrape bucket shoveling debris into the blade bucket, turning and dumping into a dump truck to be hauled away and burned/scrape as they have approved already to do, The Bobcats move quickly through their cycle because of the design and workability, The can have 4 wheels or tracks as a bulldozer !


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    • mikey
      June 17, 2011 at 11:16 pm

      I agree its a lite of sum sort I can see a point source coming thru the trees just to the right of the buildings. BUT there is also a flash that does look weird and blue that is similar to bottled lightning- This is GAMMA burst activity. This nasty mess is being vented at nite using the fog as cover but vigilant watchers are not being fooled- Good job nite owls!!


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  • NPL
    June 17, 2011 at 10:25 am

    That’s a timelapse video. The “flashes” are vehicles, or maybe the spotlights used for work at night.

    But there is a lot of steam indeed. I suppose they have reduced the amount of water they pour in as much as possible, because there is no way to store it, so it gets hotter, and you see more steam. It’ a sort of trial and error approach, but its the only thing they can do as long as the decontamination towers don’t work properly.


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    • moonshellblue moonshellblue
      June 17, 2011 at 10:33 am

      Thanks I thought it was spot lights or vehicles. Once again thanks for your post.


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    • Cindy
      June 17, 2011 at 2:26 pm

      It has been said that because of the damage, and the leaning building, and the hole in the side wall of the spent fuel pool of #4 it CANNOT be filled completely with water or even circulated, the weight would collapse it .

      So , what they do is fill it enough to cover the rods, then let it evaporate down, and then they just top it up again, or similar process…


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    • lokay5
      June 17, 2011 at 5:41 pm

      “Trial and error”. Uh huh. That’s what I like to see re nuclear power. A real confidence builder, for sure.


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  • moonshellblue moonshellblue
    June 17, 2011 at 10:37 am

    Having said that I still think the coriums, etc are starting up and stopping (Recriticality)


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    • Heart of the Rose Heart of the Rose
      June 17, 2011 at 10:50 am

      Yes..re-criticalities….spontaneous and continuous…
      This is scientific FACT…
      What goes up must come down.
      In the original explosions…a lot of the materials were expelled into the air..the rest fell back into and around the reactors….
      It is producing corium.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corium_(nuclear_reactor)
      It’s ok ..I’m used to the time wasting effort..of waiting on “expert” opinion.


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  • Stacy
    June 17, 2011 at 10:49 am

    The flashes can not be, I don’t believe, explained by fog.


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  • BlackRain
    June 17, 2011 at 10:49 am

    The “strange flashes” might be headlights and overhead dome lights of vehicles as emergeny workers — humankind’s last best hope — jump into rigs and flee for their lives to the Southern Hemisphere? (Just Guessing.)


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  • Stacy
    June 17, 2011 at 10:54 am

    http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/read/index.php?pageid=seism_read&rid=201784

    There was an earthquake along the fault near there….does the timing make sense?


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  • matina matina
    June 17, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    Magnitude mb 4.6
    Region NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
    Date time 2011-06-16 14:38:45.0 UTC
    Location 37.28 N ; 141.60 E
    Depth 40 km
    Distances 69 km E Iwaki (pop 357,309 ; local time 23:38:45.6 2011-06-16)
    58 km SE Namie (pop 21,866 ; local time 23:38:45.6 2011-06-16)

    was logged in at time, there was lots of smoke+fire at the lower part, went on and on, thought ‘shit’ its time ….

    went and checked readings for the 16th
    there was a big spike in the provinces of Ehime from average 20 to 44 nGy/h
    Saga-Nagasaki from 29 to 61 nGy/h
    Osaka from average 49 to 64 nGy/h


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    • anne anne
      June 17, 2011 at 2:16 pm

      matina,
      Earthquake 6 – 16
      MAP 5.1 2011/06/16 19:00:14 35.330 141.031 22.6 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

      Stacy’s link has:
      17 June, 2011 at 13:49:44 UTC Local Date/Time: Friday, June 17, 2011 at 13:49 in the afternoon at epicenter Location: 26° 53.400, 143° 59.400

      USGS has:
      MAP 4.7 2011/06/17 13:49:44 26.886 143.993 10.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION

      Coordinates of
      Fukushima #1 37.233 141.015; Fukushima #2 37.317 141.026

      Could you please post your source? I can’t find the earthquake in your blog.


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      • matina matina
        June 17, 2011 at 5:51 pm

        Hi Ann, sorry forgot to post
        earthquake source:
        http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=225938

        independent rad readings
        http://www.safecast.org/


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        • anne anne
          June 17, 2011 at 9:06 pm

          Matine,
          USGS doesn’t list this earthquake even though there is a link to USGS for more information. What is going on?
          From your link:
          Magnitude mb 4.6
          Region NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
          Date time 2011-06-16 14:38:45.0 UTC
          Location 37.28 N ; 141.60 E
          Depth 40 km
          Distances 69 km E Iwaki (pop 357,309 ; local time 23:38:45.6 2011-06-16)
          58 km SE Namie (pop 21,866 ; local time 23:38:45.6 2011-06-16)

          Source parameters reviewed by a seismologist

          More information at: USGS/NEIC Denver, USA

          When I tried to convert the time I got:

          http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/Map/zoom.php?key=148&typ=ASIA#2

          2011-06-16 19:00:15.035.33 N 141.00 E 305.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-16 14:38:45.037.28 N 141.60 E 404.6 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-16 10:09:10.039.93 N 143.05 E 205.1 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-15 15:16:34.038.27 N 142.40 E 494.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-14 17:54:48.039.68 N 142.37 E 104.8 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-14 15:33:54.039.64 N 143.39 E 354.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-14 14:56:02.039.53 N 142.42 E 305.3 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-14 14:36:44.637.82 N 143.88 E 104.4 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-14 13:06:55.037.77 N 143.49 E 305.8 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-14 12:48:54.043.25 N 145.21 E 705.2 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION 2011-06-13 16:49:49.036.72 N 142.03 E 305.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-13 14:01:25.037.51 N 144.09 E 24.8 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-13 13:09:20.038.72 N 143.32 E 24.8 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-13 06:50:32.040.00 N 142.95 E 205.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-13 00:25:30.039.96 N 143.35 E 404.7 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-12 12:57:56.036.24 N 141.54 E 305.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-12 08:09:47.036.45 N 141.01 E 454.9 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-12 05:47:54.037.78 N 143.67 E 104.6 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-12 00:37:59.035.81 N 140.57 E 204.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011-06-11 23:13:54.036.76 N 142.04 E 104.8 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

          http://www.worldtimeserver.com/convert_time_in_JP.aspx
          Japan local time is UTC + 9.00
          NYC is UTC – 5.00
          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_zone

          USGS has for June 16-17:
          MAP
          5.1 2011/06/17 22:08:20
          -23.886 69.499 10.0 MID-INDIAN RIDGE
          MAP
          4.9 2011/06/17 21:32:41
          26.621 126.295 122.0 RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
          MAP
          4.7 2011/06/17 13:49:44
          26.886 143.993 10.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
          MAP
          5.1 2011/06/16 19:00:14
          35.330 141.031 22.6 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

          MAP
          4.9 2011/06/16 10:09:10
          39.819 143.164 16.3 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN


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  • anne anne
    June 17, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    there is stuff visible on the last timelapse from 1.56 on at
    http://www.youtube.com/fuku1live
    (flashes and additional steam around the Waste Disposal facility. Also you can see well the four reactors now on:
    http://radioactive.eu.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=4&Itemid=193
    Also there are still flashes on the live TEPCO cam:
    http://www.tepco.co.jp/nu/f1-np/camera/index-j.html


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  • nomade
    June 19, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    Well well, there’s been large quantities of steam and smoke pouring out of #4 for over a week and AT LAST Tepco is doing something about it (kinda).

    On NHK site just now.

    Tokyo Electric Power Company has been trying to reduce a high level of radiation discovered in the Number 4 reactor of the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

    The utility started to inject water into a pool on the top floor which was used for storing large equipment contaminated by radiation on Sunday.

    The Number 4 reactor was shut down for a routine inspection when it was hit by the earthquake and the tsunami on March 11th.

    Large hardware in the reactor was removed and was submerged in the pool to block the release of radiation.

    Tokyo Electric Company discovered that the water level of the pool had dropped to about 1/3 of its capacity as of June 11th.

    The machinery is thought to have been exposed and releasing high amounts of radiation.

    The operator fears it could hamper restoration work in the Number 4 reactor.

    TEPCO says the radiation level on the top floor is so high that workers cannot enter, but if the equipment is submerged again, the radiation level will decline enabling operations to restart.

    Monday, June 20, 2011 05:53 +0900 (JST)


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  • nomade
    June 19, 2011 at 5:47 pm

    High amounts of radiation were released.

    I’d never have guessed.


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