Radiation Spike Seen At Fukushima Reactor

Tanks hold radiation-contaminated water at Tepco's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant (file photo)

The operator of Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear-power plant has reported a steep radiation spike in a tank holding contaminated water.

Plant operator Tepco on September 1 said radiation at the bottom of the tank measured 1,800 millisieverts per hour, enough to kill a person after four hours of exposure.

On August 22, radiation in the tank measured just 100 millisieverts per hour. Tepco attributed the increase to a new leak from a pipe connecting the tank with two other tanks. The announcement sparked concern that radioactive water may have leaked into the ocean.

The pipe has since been repaired, but the incident was classified as a Level 3 event, the most serious category since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that left the plant crippled.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP