In an Already Cloudy Situation, Steam seen Rising from Fukushima

The New York Times and numerous other outlets have echoed this blog’s complaints about confused and contradictory communications from TEPCO, the company responsible for the Fukushima nuclear fiasco.

But in one of a series of rapid and at times confusing pronouncements on the crisis, the authorities insisted that damage to the containment vessel at the No. 3 reactor — the main focus of concern earlier on Wednesday — was unlikely to be severe.

Yukio Edano, the chief cabinet secretary, said the possibility that the No. 3 reactor had “suffered severe damage to its containment vessel is low.” Earlier he said only that the vessel might have been damaged; columns of steam were seen rising from it in live television coverage.

New developments reported by the Times this afternoon, (March 16):

• a second reactor unit at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant in northeastern Japan may have ruptured and appeared to be releasing radioactive steam.

•  The reactor’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, said it had been able to double the number of people battling the crisis at the plant to 100 from 50, but that was before the clouds of radioactive steam began billowing from the plant.

• An increasing proportion of the people at the plant are soldiers, but the exact number is not known.

• The Pentagon said Wednesday that American military forces in Japan were not allowed within 50 miles of the plant and that some flight crews who might take part in relief missions were being given potassium iodide to protect against the effects of radiation.

• Tokyo Electric said Wednesday that some of those at the plant had taken cover for 45 minutes on site, and left water pumps running at reactors Nos. 1, 2 and 3.  There was no suspension of cooling operations.

More as it comes in. Thanks to all for input, feedback and tips.