Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc. and Ehime Prefecture announced on the 18th that the concentration of radioactive iodine in the primary cooling water passing through the reactor at Ikata Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 (Ikata Town, Ikata Prefecture) has increased regarding three times as much as usual. There is no effect of radiation on the outside, and monitoring will be strengthened to continue operation. There is a possibility that radioactive materials may have leaked out due to small holes in the fuel rods.
According to the prefecture, at around 5:45 pm on the 18th, the iodine concentration was 0.25 becquerels per cubic centimeter, up from the usual 0.99 becquerels. Less than 1 / 120,000 of the driving limit (32,000 becquerels per cubic centimeter). Shikoku Electric Power will increase the number of inspections conducted three times a week to once every three to four hours and continue monitoring.[Yuichi Nakagawa]
