OKUMA, Japan
A radioactive water leak still troubles Japan's Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant since it began in March 2011.
"Unless we solve the problem, society's fear continues and the evacuated people cannot return home," said Akira Ono, the chief of Daiichi nuclear plant on Monday.
The leak started after the massive earthquake and tsunami hit northeastern Japan in March 2011, causing meltdowns at the three reactors in the Fukushima plant in one of the worst nuclear accidents since Chernobyl in 1986. It still continues today, a day before the third anniversary of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) plans to build an underground ice wall in order to block the water leaks, and the construction is expected to finish by next year.
The current leak is one of the worst since last summer when about 300 tons of radioactive water dripped from a tank and in February, TEPCO stated that around 100 metric tons of highly contaminated water leaked out of a tank in the Daichii power plant after the valve had accidentally been left open.
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