Fukushima reactor 3 meltdown was worse than estimated: Tepco

[FBaggins]

The revised estimate is based on the finding that an emergency cooling system, known as HPCI, of reactor 3 stopped working six hour earlier than previously thought, and that the meltdown had also started more than five hours earlier. Tepco had previously said that the HPCI had shut down at 2:42 a.m. on March 13, 2011. But further investigation over the past year determined that the HPCI appeared to have lost its cooling function about at 8:00 p.m. on March 12.

According to the new estimate, all the melted fuel penetrated the pressure vessel, fell onto the bottom of the containment vessel and melted about 68 cm into the concrete.

...snip...

While the new analysis announced on Wednesday, based on temperature, pressure and other data, shows that all the fuel had melted down to the containment vessel, Tepco has a more optimistic view.

“We think some fuel still remains at the core part based on the actual plant data,” said Shinichi Kawamura, a Tepco spokesman, during a news conference.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/08/06/national/fukushima-reactor-3-meltdown-worse-estimated-tepco/#.U-LQCa10xmM

That's getting the headline... but the report itself has lots of interesting information beyond this new guestimate.

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu14_e/images/140806e0101.pdf

[Massacure]

1. So what's the death count up to? What about the injury count?

[FBaggins]

2. Right where it has been for years

Zero deaths from radiation - a couple killed at the plant during the tsunami.

[Bill USA]

3. any guesstimate on how many decades till land in the danger zone can be used 4 farming or living on?

[FBaggins]

4. Much of it already is.

Farming resumed in most parts of the area (IIRC) two years ago. Roughly 1/3 of the area once closed off is now open, 1/3 is open for daily activities, but not living, and one third is expected to be closed for several years.

The portion expected to be closed off for multiple decades is quite small.