Photographs released by the Defense Ministry offer graphic evidence of the damage to reactor buildings at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant caused by the March 11 mega-earthquake and tsunami.
Photographs released by the Defense Ministry offer graphic evidence of the damage to reactor buildings at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant caused by the March 11 mega-earthquake and tsunami.
Taken from a Self-Defense Forces helicopter on March 27, the images show that the ceiling and walls of the building housing the No. 1 reactor have collapsed, likely due to the first hydrogen explosion that occurred March 12, one day after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck.
While the steel framework is visible, the steam and smoke previously seen billowing from the building is not. The current water level in the fuel rod pool cannot be ascertained from the outside.
The No. 2 reactor building incurred the least damage of the four reactor buildings, although the suppression pool that lies under the core containment vessel was likely damaged by an explosion on March 15.
However, white smoke or steam can be seen rising from several holes in the roof and walls. Cracks in the walls are also evident.
Steam is rising profusely from the upper part of the building housing the No. 3 reactor, which was badly damaged by a hydrogen explosion.
A crane normally used to lift and move fuel rods is not visible, indicating the possibility that part of the crane may have fallen into the fuel rod pool and damaged some of the rods.
The walls of the No. 4 reactor building exhibit similar damage to the No. 1 and No. 3 reactor buildings where hydrogen explosions occurred, and steam rises from various parts of what is left of the structure.
What appears to be a green crane as well as a yellow structure, probably the cover for the core containment vessel, are visible inside the building.
The cover was likely removed while the reactor was undergoing a periodic inspection prior to the earthquake.