TOKYO
All eight water transfer pumps at a Japanese nuclear power station devastated by the 2011 earthquake-tsunami have been found to be leaking radiation-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean.
Fukushima Daiichi owner Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said Tuesday that it is now checking how much water has leaked from the pumps for a drainage path, and why they have stopped working.
Kyodo news agency reported that TEPCO had begun to pump up contaminated water from the path last Friday, after only discovering late February that radioactive water was continuing to leak into the ocean.
The Japanese government is attempting to rebuild the country's nuclear industry, which has been in a state of paralysis since the meltdowns at the nuclear plant four years ago.
None of the 48 usable reactors in Japan are back online, although efforts were being made to restart two nuclear reactors at the Takahama power plant.
Last week, however, a court issued an injunction ordering Kansai Electric Power not to restart the plant's No. 3 and No. 4 reactors, citing safety concerns.
