Radiation near Japan nuke plant 1,000 times normal level

TOKYO: The radiation readings have risen from 100 to 1,000 times the normal level on the Pacific seabed near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, reported Japan's Kyodo News.

The high levels of radioactive materials were detected from samples collected last Friday from the seabed at points 20-30m deep, according to Tokyo Electric Power Co.

The seabed samples collected 3km from Minamisoma and another 3km from Naraha, both in Fukushima Prefecture, contained 98 to 190 becquerels of radioactive iodine per kg and 1,200 to 1,400 becquerels of radioactive cesium.

The normal readings for the materials can be up to several becquerels, the utility said.

TEPCO said that it believes the radioactive substances may have fallen into the sea after being released into the air from the plant or may have been carried by contaminated water that seeped from the plant.

Meanwhile, the science ministry said it had not detected radioactive substances in samples collected on Friday from the seabed at a depth of 117m at a point 10km from a spot on the coast 50km south of the Fukushima plant. - Bernama