A drone camera recorded damage from inside the containment shell of reactor No. 1, which suffered the most damage during the radiation accident at the First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011.
Previously, Reactors 1-3 were particularly difficult to investigate due to high levels of radioactivity and leaking radioactive fuel inside their containment chambers.
Here's a video shared by Brazilian broadcaster Universo:
🎥 Fukushima: Drone video shows inside the damaged nuclear plant reactor in 2011 pic.twitter.com/xs6HIGBLyV
— UOL Notícias (@UOLNoticias) March 22, 2024
The damaged reactors still contain about 880 tons of highly radioactive melted nuclear fuel that must be safely removed before they can be completely decommissioned, the Associated Press reported.
The lightweight drone that visited the No. 1 reactor was developed by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) – it was supposed to squeeze into the first floor of the No. 1 reactor to help determine the exact location of the fuel inside the damaged reactor containment chamber. Using this information, engineers could develop robots to remove it safely, a process that could take another 10 years.
Together with the drone, a robotic snake was launched into the reactor, which illuminated the area ahead.
It's been more than 13 years since a powerful earthquake and tsunami devastated the Fukushima region of Japan. A 14-meter-high wave inundated the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and severely damaged three of its six nuclear reactors. According to the World Nuclear Association, several hundred workers were exposed to excess radiation. Around 160,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and have been allowed only limited returns since 2012.
The competition for ITS authors continues. Write an article about the development of games, gaming and gaming devices and win a professional gaming wheel Logitech G923 Racing Wheel, or one of the low-profile gaming keyboards Logitech G815 LIGHTSYNC RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard!