The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear complex says it has succeeded in plugging a leak that had allowed contaminated water with high levels of radiation to flow into the Pacific Ocean.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company said it found success by injecting sodium silicate, or liquid glass, and a hardening agent, near a crack where large volumes of highly radioactive water had been leaking.
The crack is linked to the Fukushima plant's reactor Number 2, which had its cooling systems knocked out by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan on March 11.
Officials have cautioned, however, that while this leak has been plugged, engineers have not ruled out that radioactive water may still be flowing into the sea from other leaks at the Fukushima plant.
The nuclear catastrophe has led to water around the plant having radiation readings millions of times above the legal limits.
In another development, India has become the first country to ban food imports from all areas of Japan because of radiation concerns.
compiled from agency reports
The Tokyo Electric Power Company said it found success by injecting sodium silicate, or liquid glass, and a hardening agent, near a crack where large volumes of highly radioactive water had been leaking.
The crack is linked to the Fukushima plant's reactor Number 2, which had its cooling systems knocked out by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan on March 11.
Officials have cautioned, however, that while this leak has been plugged, engineers have not ruled out that radioactive water may still be flowing into the sea from other leaks at the Fukushima plant.
The nuclear catastrophe has led to water around the plant having radiation readings millions of times above the legal limits.
In another development, India has become the first country to ban food imports from all areas of Japan because of radiation concerns.
compiled from agency reports
