Asia-Pacific

Oil leaks found near sea close to Fukushima plant

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-31 16:22

TOKYO - Operator of the troubled Fukushima No 1 nuclear power plant found that oil has been leaking into the sea close to the facility, the Kyodo News reported Tuesday.

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The operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) said the oil leaks were possibly from nearby oil tanks that may have been damaged in the March earthquake and tsunami, and it would set up oil fences to prevent the liquid from pouring into the Pacific Ocean.

The oil leaks were found at 8 am by TEPCO workers. Tokyo Electric suspects that the oil may have leaked from tanks located near the water intake for the No 5 and 6 reactors or pipes that deliver the oil, because the March 11 disaster took place when a tanker was supplying oil, according to the Kyodo report.

The leakage was reported to have remained within the breakwater. The Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama said the leaks' impact on areas outside the breakwater is likely to be "extremely limited" so far.