Water level of Fukushima No. 2 reactor only 60 cm above bottom

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Monday found that the water level in the No. 2 reactor's primary containment vessel was only 60 centimeters deep when it checked the interior of the crippled reactor using an endoscope.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. spokesman Junichi Matsumoto gave assurances that the melted fuel inside the No. 2 reactor remains cooled through continuous water injection, as the water temperature in the vessel was 48.5 C to 50 C.

But he acknowledged that the lower-than-expected water level suggests that a large portion of the injected water is leaking from the primary containment vessel, possibly via the damaged suppression pool that is linked to the reactor.

To specify from where the water is leaking, the company needs a ''broader inspection,'' Matsumoto told a press conference. TEPCO plans to conduct another survey into the No. 2 reactor Tuesday to check the interior radiation level. Read More