Tokyo Electric Power Co. on April 13 released photos showing extensive damage at the spent fuel storage pool of the No. 3 reactor at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. on April 13 released photos showing extensive damage at the spent fuel storage pool of the No. 3 reactor at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Part of the refueling structure, including a crane that weighs 35 tons and is used to lift and move fuel rods, and a fuel storage rack appeared in the photos taken earlier in the day.
The refueling machine is believed to have fallen underwater after a hydrogen explosion in March last year.
This is the second time TEPCO has released underwater images from inside the reactor building. On May 10 last year, TEPCO released a video showing the interior of the spent fuel storage pool in the No. 3 reactor.
Like in the video clip shot on May 8 last year, the latest photos showed twisted steel frames and other rubble in the water.
Within the next three years, TEPCO plans to begin removing the spent fuel rods from the storage pool. Removing the rubble that has piled up around the fuel rods is expected to present a major challenge.