Power line bid to cool reactors and avert meltdown

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that restoring power to the Fukushima power station should allow engineers to restart the pumps that help cool the reactor.

Workers at the nuclear plant have been battling to prevent fuel in the reactors from overheating since Friday’s huge earthquake and tsunami.

The atomic crisis was triggered when the power supply to Fukushima was damaged and back-up generators failed.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), which runs the plant, has been attempting to connect to the main grid via an electricity cable over half a mile long.

It is believed that as long as the station’s electrical systems are intact and its pumps still working, water could then be sent into the fuel storage areas in reactor buildings 2 and 3 to help improve the flow into the damaged reactors themselves.

However, the impact of the natural disaster and subsequent fires and explosions could have damaged this equipment.

But if power can be restored across the whole complex then the situation could be brought under control.

Helicopters and water cannon yesterday dumped tonnes of sea water over the reactors in a frantic bid to prevent fuel rods melting.

Graham Andrew, a senior official of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, said the situation remained “very serious” but also noted that “there has been no significant worsening” at the plant over the previous 24 hours.

While US Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman Gregory Jaczko warned that anyone close to the Fukushima plant would be at risk.

“We believe radiation levels are extremely high,” he said.

Despite these concerns the Japanese government said it had no plans to expand its mandatory 12-mile (20km) exclusion zone around the plant.

Meanwhile, foreign governments were scrambling to fly their citizens out of the country.

A French government plane has already left Tokyo for Seoul in South Korea with 241 people on board, with another flight planned for French citizens wishing to leave Japan.

As foreign nationals were advised to leave the stricken region, Tokyo’s Narita International Airport heaved with would-be passengers waiting anxiously for flights.

Akiko Takano, who works in information at the airport, said many had slept on floors and benches in the crowded terminals.

Ms Takano said: “There are long queues at check-in but there’s no confusion.”

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic said yesterday their flights out of Tokyo were very busy, but Virgin said planes were not completely full.

The first alternative option arranged by the British government is a Cathay Pacific flight leaving this evening from Tokyo to Hong Kong, on which up to 200 seats have been block-booked for British nationals.

Further flight options will be provided over the weekend as necessary including a charter on Saturday, the Foreign Office said.