More On The Reactors

There are two helicopters now working above Reactor 3 - NHK television. Each is capable of dropping 7.5 tonnes of water, it says.

Can see a white curtain of water dropping on the reactor from a helicopter, live on NHK TV.

It was feared yesterday that Reactor 3 might have released radioactive steam due to damage to its containment vessel.

Just saw a third load of water spraying from a chopper. Seems it was aimed at Reactor 4.

Now a 4th load has been dropped.

This is no easy task for the chopper crews. They can't afford to hover above the reactors because of the radiation so they are making the drops in passing.

These are CH-47 Chinook helicopters. Each would normally have a crew of three: pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer.

The reason Reactor 3 got the first shower is because of escaping smoke or steam, indicating water evaporating from the cooling pool, Reuters news agency notes.

And US nuclear experts believe there is no water left in Reactor 4's cooling pool, meaning radiation levels are extremely high there.

Let's recall what top US nuclear official Gregory Jaczko had to say about the risks facing the crews fighting to cool down the reactors: "It would be very difficult for emergency workers to get near the reactors. The doses they could experience would potentially be lethal doses in a very short period of time."

A lead plate is attached to the bottom of each chopper and the crew are wearing protective suits - NHK.

Eleven water cannon trucks are also on their way to the plant - NHK.

BBC