VIENNA / NUCLEAR UPDATE WRAP

At a briefing on the nuclear emergency in Japan today, the UN Atomic Energy Agency's Special Adviser Graham Andrew said that radiation levels in Tokyo "remain well below levels which are dangerous to human health" adding that in some locations at around 30 kilometres from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, "the rates increased significantly over the last 24 hours." IAEA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:48
• Production Date: 17 March 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY - IAEA
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; DISARMAMENT
• Geographic Subject: JAPAN
• MAMS Id: U110317g

Description

STORY: VIENNA / NUCLEAR UPDATE WRAP
TRT: 1:48
SOURCE: IAEA
RETRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 17 MARCH 2011, VIENNA, AUSTRIA / RECENT

RECENT - VIENNA, AUSTRIA

1. Wide shot, exterior IAEA headquarters

17 MARCH 2011, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

2. Pan left, journalists
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Graham Andrew, Special Adviser on Scientific and Technical Affairs, International Atomic Energy Agency:
“The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant situation remains very serious but there has been no significant worsening since yesterday. The current situation at Units 1, 2 and 3, whose cores have suffered damage, appears to be relatively stable.”
4. Cutaway, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Graham Andrew, Special Adviser on Scientific and Technical Affairs, International Atomic Energy Agency:
“Concerning radiation monitoring, we are now receiving rate information for 47 Japanese cities on regular basis. This is a positive development. In Tokyo, there has been no significant change in radiation levels since yesterday. They remain well below levels which are dangerous to human health.”
6. Cutaway, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Graham Andrew, Special Adviser on Scientific and Technical Affairs, International Atomic Energy Agency:
“In some locations at around 30 kilometres from the Fukushima plant, the rates raised significantly over the last 24 hours - in one location, from 80 to 170 microseverts per hour and in another from 26 to 95 microseverts per hour. But this was not the case for all locations at this distance from the plant.”
8. Cutaway, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Graham Andrew, Special Adviser on Scientific and Technical Affairs, International Atomic Energy Agency:
“As for the agencies activities, the Director-General who is now on his way to Japan had another conversation with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The UN Secretary-General pledged all possible support for the agency’s efforts.”
10. Med shot, journalists

Storyline

At a briefing on the nuclear emergency in Japan, an official from the United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog agency said that radiation levels in Tokyo "remain well below levels which are dangerous to human health" adding that in some locations close to the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, "the rates increased significantly over the last 24 hours."

Speaking to reporters at the International Atomic Energy Agency headquarters in Vienna today (17 Mar), the Agency’s Special Adviser Graham Andrew added that the current situation at “Units 1, 2 and 3, whose cores have suffered damage, appears to be relatively stable.”

According to IAEA, sea water is being injected into all three units using fire extinguishing hoses, containment pressures are fluctuating and military helicopters have carried out four water drops over Unit 3. Unit 4, however, remains a major safety concern but no information is available on the level of water in the spent fuel pool.

The Agency is now receiving information for 47 Japanese cities on regular basis. Although there has been “no significant change in radiation levels since yesterday” in Tokyo, levels have increased in some locations around 30 kilometres from the plant.

Andrew added that there hasn’t been an increase in “all locations at this distance from the plant.”

IAEA’s Director-General Yukiya Amano is on his way to Japan to see what further help the Agency can offer. Andrew said that Amano has been in contact with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The Secretary-General reiterated his serious concern about the situation and expressed appreciation for the IAEA’s assistance to help the Japanese authorities control the situation. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN’s readiness to provide any additional assistance if requested.