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Japan MP Yasuhiro Sonoda drinks Fukushima water | Japan MP Yasuhiro Sonoda drinks Fukushima water |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Japanese official has drunk water collected from the quake-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, after reporters challenged him to prove it was safe. | A Japanese official has drunk water collected from the quake-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, after reporters challenged him to prove it was safe. |
Yasuhiro Sonoda appeared nervous and his hands shook as he downed a glass during a televised news conference. | Yasuhiro Sonoda appeared nervous and his hands shook as he downed a glass during a televised news conference. |
The water he drank was taken from puddles under two reactor buildings. It is decontaminated before being used for tasks such as watering plants. | The water he drank was taken from puddles under two reactor buildings. It is decontaminated before being used for tasks such as watering plants. |
Journalists have repeatedly queried the safety of the procedure. | Journalists have repeatedly queried the safety of the procedure. |
Mr Sonoda, who serves as the cabinet office's parliamentary spokesman, told the news conference: "Just drinking [decontaminated water] doesn't mean safety has been confirmed. Presenting data to the public is the best way." | Mr Sonoda, who serves as the cabinet office's parliamentary spokesman, told the news conference: "Just drinking [decontaminated water] doesn't mean safety has been confirmed. Presenting data to the public is the best way." |
Tsunami damage | Tsunami damage |
In another sign of the government's growing confidence over the plant's safety, officials said they would allow journalists on to the site on 12 November. | In another sign of the government's growing confidence over the plant's safety, officials said they would allow journalists on to the site on 12 November. |
It will be the first time journalists have toured the area since the 11 March earthquake and tsunami wrecked the plant, causing partial meltdowns in three of its reactors. | It will be the first time journalists have toured the area since the 11 March earthquake and tsunami wrecked the plant, causing partial meltdowns in three of its reactors. |
A 20km exclusion zone is still in force around the plant, and tens of thousands of people have had to abandon their homes. | A 20km exclusion zone is still in force around the plant, and tens of thousands of people have had to abandon their homes. |
The government has a target of the end of the year to bring the plant to a cold shutdown, when the reactors are stable and the water inside them is no longer boiling. | The government has a target of the end of the year to bring the plant to a cold shutdown, when the reactors are stable and the water inside them is no longer boiling. |
However, a preliminary report by a panel of nuclear experts says fully decommissioning the power station could take 30 years. | However, a preliminary report by a panel of nuclear experts says fully decommissioning the power station could take 30 years. |
Away from Fukushima, the tsunami caused widespread devastation, swamping entire villages, killing thousands of people and leaving many more homeless. | Away from Fukushima, the tsunami caused widespread devastation, swamping entire villages, killing thousands of people and leaving many more homeless. |
The government struggled to deal with the magnitude of the disaster, and one prime minister has already stepped down largely because of his handling of the crisis. | The government struggled to deal with the magnitude of the disaster, and one prime minister has already stepped down largely because of his handling of the crisis. |
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