Typhoon Songda heading for Fukushima, plant not yet ready
San Francisco residents are learning that the Fukushima power plant in Japan could be in the path of the oncoming typhoon, Songda.
San Francisco residents can follow this and other top news stories on local KTVU Channel 2 News.
According to the BBC, Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), the company which is in charge of the power plant, has told press that some of the reactor buildings at Fukushima remain uncovered.
This could result in the typhoon Songda taking the radioactive material up into the air and out to sea.
"We have made utmost efforts, but we have not completed covering the damaged reactor buildings," reported an official of Tepco to press on Saturday.
Typhoon Songda, according to the BBC, is predicted to hit Japan on Monday.
The nuclear plant at Fukushima was severely damaged by the immense earthquake and resultant tsunami on 11 March quake 2011.
The company has now expressed its regret publicly for its lack of preparedness with regard to Typhoon Songda.
"We apologize for the lack of significant measures against wind and rain," said the official.
The BBC reports that Tepco has been pouring anti-scattering agents - such as synthetic resins - all over the damaged buildings of reactors one and four.
But some of the buildings still remain uncovered after they were rendered unsafe by hydrogen explosions just after the massive earthquake and tsunami struck in March.
An adviser to Prime Minister Naoto Kan criticized Tepco, and said the safety measures now in place were not "appropriate".
According to the TheIntelhub.com, TEPCO is considering typhoon measures but it may well be keeping everything it knows hidden from the public
Adviser Goshi Hosono told the BBC they were doing the best they could: "We are now doing the utmost to prevent further spreading of radioactive materials".
Currently Typhoon Songda, which sustains winds of around 216km/h (134mph), is sweeping north-east and the Japan Meteorological Agency reports that it could hit Japan in two days. Fukushima may be in its path but that has not yet been confirmed for sure.
According to Bloomberg.com, Japan is regularly hit by tropical storms and typhoons throughout the northwestern Pacific cyclone season.
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Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13587264
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-28/typhoon-songda-weakens-changes-...
http://theintelhub.com/2011/05/27/typhoon-songda-may-hit-fukushima-nucle...
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