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Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant opened to reporters Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant opened to reporters
(40 minutes later)
Reporters have been allowed inside the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan for the first time since it was crippled by an earthquake and tsunami in March.Reporters have been allowed inside the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan for the first time since it was crippled by an earthquake and tsunami in March.
The journalists toured the plant wearing full protective clothing.The journalists toured the plant wearing full protective clothing.
They were accompanied by the government minister in charge of the clean-up operation, Goshi Hosono. A reporter from the Associated Press described seeing "twisted and overturned trucks, crumbling reactor buildings and piles of rubble virtually untouched since the wave struck".
The Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered meltdowns and explosions at several reactors after their cooling systems were destroyed by the tsunami. Three reactors melted down after the tsunami wrecked their cooling systems.
The authorities have previously rejected requests by journalists to visit the plant, on the grounds that radiation levels were too high and it could hamper operations to tackle the crisis.The authorities have previously rejected requests by journalists to visit the plant, on the grounds that radiation levels were too high and it could hamper operations to tackle the crisis.
This tour was designed to show that the situation at the plant is gradually becoming more stable.This tour was designed to show that the situation at the plant is gradually becoming more stable.
The reporters arrived at Fukushima on Friday and were shown a nearby football-training complex which is now being used as a base for the clean-up operation. The reporters were accompanied by the government minister in charge of the clean-up operation, Goshi Hosono.
They arrived at Fukushima on Friday and were shown a nearby football-training complex which is now being used as a base for the clean-up operation.
They were also able to get a closer view of the outside of some of the damaged reactors.They were also able to get a closer view of the outside of some of the damaged reactors.
Large quantities of radioactive material leaked into the surrounding area following the disaster and much of the countryside around the plant is sealed-off.Large quantities of radioactive material leaked into the surrounding area following the disaster and much of the countryside around the plant is sealed-off.
The authorities are hoping to complete a "cold shutdown" of the damaged reactors by the end of the year. But it could take decades to completely decommission the plant.The authorities are hoping to complete a "cold shutdown" of the damaged reactors by the end of the year. But it could take decades to completely decommission the plant.
Of the six reactors at Fukushima, four were badly damaged by the tsunami.
The nuclear fuel rods in reactors one, two and three melted down due to a failure of the cooling systems, causing damage to their containment structures.
There were also explosions caused by a build-up of hydrogen gas.
Completing the process of stabilising these reactors remains the main task at the plant, but the authorities have also been trying to tackle the accumulation of highly contaminated waste water in the reactor buildings.