Thanks for the article. That area is remote and there has been off and on conflicts going on in the area. Hopefully because its not too developed the damage might not be too bad but on the downside it will be very difficult to get aid to the area.
Why are people suddenly doubting nuclear safety? The reactors in Japan survived the worst possible scenario with minimal release of radioactive material. _____ Posted this in another thread, but felt it probably belongs here.
I don't know if this has been posted, but xkcd has an awesome look at radiation doses. Big Picture: Spoiler
Keep in mind that if a reactor containment vessel is actually breached we are not going to have a minimal release of radiation. It is too early to say just how this is going to play out as things seem to be changing daily, or even hourly, at Fukushima. I noted this before in another thread. The initial design was very good but it is the followup of the failure of back up systems to keep the reactors and waste ponds cool that is the problem. While not comparable to the scale of loss of life this is similar in regard to that the WTC towers performed better than expected in regard to an impact by airplanes but it was the failure of adequate fire proofing of the steel to handle the fire following.
The true level of radioactive release is known by only a privileged few. And unfortunately our only way of ever knowing will be by the rate of increase in cancer cases over time.
Documentary on the JAPAN earthquake/tsunami on NOVA right now on PBS. Absolutely phenomenal journalism. RE-runs will be at 2 and 4 am on Friday morning on 1008 (U-verse). Man, we really pissed off mother Earth.
Just heard the groundwater around the Fukushima plant is 10,000 times more radioactive than health standards allow while the seawater is 4,000 times more radioactive. Also the ongoing nuclear disaster is hampering efforts to recover bodies from the affected area.
That's not good. An amazing miracle...a dog rescued at sea after 3 weeks http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=24752921 how did that dog survive???
