The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it believes the melted fuel rods in the No. 1 reactor are partially exposed above the water's surface.
Tokyo Electric Power Company says the reactor's fuel rods have melted and fallen to the bottom. It says holes were created and the containment vessel was also damaged. A large amount of highly radioactive water is believed to be leaking into the reactor building.
TEPCO says that as of 11 AM on Sunday, the temperature of the reactor's upper section was 110.4 degrees Celsius, and the lower part was 88.6 degrees.
It says it believes that the exposed fuel is generating hot vapor.
The company also says the temperature of the reactor's upper section fell more than 15 degrees after it increased the amount of cooling water being injected into the reactor from 8 to 10 tons per hour on Sunday.
The utility says it will carefully monitor the reactor's temperatures.
Monday, May 16, 2011 13:16 +0900 (JST)
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