2024-01-04 10:43:34
Due to the Noto Peninsula earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 7 that occurred on the 1st, monitoring posts that measure air radiation levels around Hokuriku Electric Power’s Shiga Nuclear Power Plant (Shiga Town, Ishikawa Prefecture) are no longer able to measure radiation levels at 15 locations. The site cannot be confirmed due to roads being cut off by the earthquake, and there is no outlook for recovery. The difficulty of preparing for a nuclear disaster has been exposed in a situation where it is not possible to quickly obtain measured values that can be used as a basis for making decisions regarding evacuation of residents in the event of a nuclear accident.
◆Many evacuees were exposed to radiation in the Great East Japan Earthquake
According to the Nuclear Regulation Authority, the Nuclear Regulation Authority’s secretariat, of the approximately 120 monitoring posts within 30 kilometers of the nuclear power plant, measurements have not been taken since the earthquake occurred at locations around 20 to 30 kilometers north of the power plant, including Wajima City and Anamizu Town. Not yet. A representative said, “We don’t know if it’s broken or if it’s filled with dirt or other things.”
The country’s nuclear emergency preparedness guidelines stipulate that in the event of a nuclear power plant accident, actual readings from monitoring posts will be used to determine whether residents should evacuate their homes or whether to begin evacuations. If measurements are not possible, measurements are taken using cars or helicopters instead, but issues remain, such as whether helicopters will be able to get close enough in the presence of severed roads and high radiation levels at the time of accidents.
During the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011, 23 of the 24 monitoring posts installed by Fukushima Prefecture became unable to measure, making it difficult to ascertain radiation levels. As a result, many evacuees were forced to flee to areas with high radiation levels and were exposed to radiation.
◆Road disruptions…Ishikawa Prefecture is unable to take alternative measures
Hokuriku Electric Power Shiga Nuclear Power Plant hit by a major earthquake (Photo taken on the morning of January 2nd)
The Shiga Nuclear Power Plant is currently out of operation, and no severe accidents occurred due to the earthquake. However, it will be difficult to quickly restore monitoring posts that cannot be measured. As an alternative, only one location in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, more than 20 kilometers southeast of the nuclear power plant, has been able to set up portable measuring instruments. The Nuclear Regulation Authority is preparing for measurements by aircraft.
A person in charge of the Ishikawa Prefecture Nuclear Safety Measures Office said, “The prefecture is unable to come up with any alternative measures because the roads are cut off and it is inaccessible.” (Kenta Onozawa, Seiko Watanabe)
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