Japan Press Service has several special features on the nuke-plant safety and worker health and safety struggles over the years.

JCP members of the Diet warned in 2006 and in 2010 that the nuclear power plants were at risk of failure from tsunamis.

In 2006, Japanese Communist Party representative Yoshii Hidekatsu revealed that in the event that tsunami undertows decrease the sea level by five meters, 43 nuclear reactors (about 80 percent) in Japan will face the danger of being unable to utilize seawater for cooling, making core meltdown a possibility to a House of Representatives Budget Committee workshop.

Yoshii said, “We should assume the worst case scenario such as core meltdown and water vapor eruption that can occur if decay heat cannot be properly removed,” and demanded that the government take appropriate measures against such accidents.

In the wake of a 2010 tsunami, Onagawa Town assembly member Takano said, “The danger associated with tsunami may be a blind spot when it comes to N-power plants. The government is responsible to seriously test safety when intakes are clogged by sand and floating objects without just claiming safety.”

And House of Representatives member Yoshii stated: A rise in the sea level associated with a tsunami could submerge cooling pumps, and the lowered sea level could cause the loss of cooling water. These failures could lead to a meltdown. The JCP will work to improve protective measures against earthquakes and tsunami.

The JCP called for an “independent team of experts” to deal with the nuclear crisis and an all out effort to help with the recovery and saving lives.

For People’s World editorial, The people of Japan are in our hearts, click here.

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