The DOST-PNRI continues to closely monitor the situation at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The situation, while unstable, is under control and not worsening.
Power lines from the electric grid have been connected to the reactors with ongoing efforts to start the cooling pumps, which would greatly improve the situation.
Daily modeling studies indicate that the radiological plume is still to the Pacific Coast direction, northeast of Japan, and therefore will not affect the Philippines in the next three (3) days.
DOST-PNRI calculations show that even if the plume reaches the Philippine territory, the dose is still below the allowable limit for the public and is considered safe.
Results of the monitoring team by the IAEA show no traces of radioactive iodine and cesium in Tokyo. The radiation levels measured in Tokyo and in nearby cities remain not harmful to human health.
Current radiation dose rate at the Fukushima site remains around 0.3 mSv/hr. World Health Organization (WHO) authorities have stated that people outside the 30-km zone are safe.
The International Civil Aviation Organization, in consultation with the IAEA and a number of other international organizations, said that international flights and maritime operations can continue normal operations into and out of Japan’s major airports and sea ports and there is no medical basis for imposing additional measures to protect passengers.
Evacuation is kept within the 20-km radius while sheltering remains at 30-km radius from the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants.
The assessment of the accident at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants has been uprated by the Japanese Authorities from Level 4 to Level 5 under the International Nuclear Events Scale (INES). Level 5 is defined as an "accident with wider consequences". Level 5 has the same classification as the Three Mile Island accident, while the Chernobyl accident was at Level 7 and very unlikely to happen in this situation.
For the latest information on on-site and off-site radiological situations about the Fukushima accident, please access the following websites:
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) website (www.iaea.org); and
The DOST-PNRI continues to closely monitor the situation in Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Japanese Authorities have informed the IAEA that engineers tried to restore electrical power to Unit 2 by laying external grid power lines. The cable laying was completed at 4:30PM (Philippine time), 17 March 2011.
The current situations of the damaged reactor cores of Units 1, 2, and 3 appear to be under control. The core of Unit 4 did not contain any fuel at the time of the earthquake. The undamaged reactor cores of Units 5 and 6 are being closely monitored.
Spent fuels under storage remain a safety concern. Japanese Authorities are attempting to replenish water in the spent fuel storage pools.
Evacuation within the 20-km radius around Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants has been completed while sheltering remains at 30-km radius from the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants.
Japanese Authorities have informed the IAEA that radiation levels in Tokyo and in nearby cities have dropped slightly. The levels remain not harmful to human health.
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano has flown to Tokyo to discuss with Japanese Authorities the nature of assistance IAEA can deliver to the Japanese Government and to further discuss the means to coordinate the flow of information.
For further advisories, please call the PNRI trunklines with Tel Nos. 929-6010 to 19 or visit the following websites:
Daily modelling studies are being carried-out by PNRI. Based on the latest calculations, there is no risk of the Philippines being affected by the radiological plume. The public is advised therefore not to be unduly alarmed about exposure to radiation arising from the Fukushima accident.
Latest DOST-PNRI RADIATION LEVEL CHECK as of 3:00 PM, March 17, 2011: 87 - 107 nSv (nanoSievert) per hour.
The DOST-PNRI is continuing to monitor the status of the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plants;
According to Japanese authorities as they informed the IAEA, white smoke was seen emanating from Unit 3 around 1:00 UTC, 16 March 2011.
The evacuation is kept at 20km radius zone while sheltering is being implemented at 30km radius from the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plants.
Units 1, 2, and 3 are being maintained shutdown while Unit 4 remains in shutdown state prior to earthquake.
No significant levels of radioisotopes of iodine and cesium have been detected near Tokyo area.
For the latest information on on-site and off-site radiological situations about the Fukushima accident, please access the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) website: www.iaea.org.
No radioactive plume will reach the Philippine territorial seas within the next 24 hours which requires offsite response or monitoring in affected areas.
Daily modelling studies are being conducted by PNRI. Its simulations and those carried out by the World Meteorological Organization-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres for Environmental Emergency Response in Tokyo and Melbourne have shown that at such a distance, there is no risk of the Philippines being affected by the radiological plume. The public is advised therefore not to be unduly alarmed about exposure to radiation arising from the Fukushima accident.
Even on a direct hit scenario, DOST-PNRI declares that even on a worst case scenario, there is no risk of the Philippines and its population being affected by the radiological plume. The public is advised therefore to remain calm.
Latest DOST-PNRI RADIATION LEVEL CHECK as of 3:00 PM, March 16, 2011: 90-112 nSv (nanoSievert) per hour.
All reactor vessels of Units 1,2 and 3 remain intact . Containment vessels for Units 1 and 3 are also intact. And while the suppression chamber of Unit 2 is damaged, the rest of its containment unit remain intact.
Condition of cooling systems in Unit 1, 2 and 3 of the Daiichi reactors still not normal but under control.
There are no indications that spent fuel assemblies in the storage ponds in all Units have been exposed.
Radiation level at the plant’s main gate is measured at 0.6 mSv.
Current weather information continues to indicate that wind patterns coming from the Japan Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant have been moving away from the Japan coast towards the East. This would mean that winds which may carry any radioactive materials from the affected nuclear plants will not affect any part of the Philippines. The same wind patterns are predicted for the next three days.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in coordination with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is monitoring the weather situation at the affected nuclear plants and the possible effects on neighboring countries. The WMO is providing data to the IAEA using its Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers in Asia based in Beijing, China; Tokyo, Japan; and Obninsk, Russia. The information is provided to the IAEA and national meteorological and hydrological services in order to provide advice to the respective government agencies which manage nuclear safety and nuclear emergency response activities. In the Philippines, the WMO provides information to the PAGASA which provides advice to the DOST-PNRI, NDRRMC and other agencies regarding wind patterns.
The DOST-PNRI is continuing to monitor the situation in Japan with the help of information being isseminated on a 24-hour basis by the IAEA. This arrangement is part of requirements under the International Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident. The Philippines is a party to this Convention which entitles the country to early receipt of relevant information of nuclear accidents occurring in neighboring countries. Japan continues to provide detailed information to the IAEA which in turn distributes these to countries on a 24-hour basis through its national contact persons, which in the Philippines is the Director of the DOST-PNRI.
In spite of latest reports of fire on the spent fuel storage facility and release of radioactivity and another explosion on a third nuclear plant, the situation remains the same as far as the effect on the Philippines is concerned. Any significant effect is limited only within the power station boundary and immediate vicinity.
The DOST-PNRI emphasizes that there remains no immediate threat to the Philippines.
Latest DOST-PNRI RADIATION LEVEL CHECK : As of 9:00 AM March 16, 2011 89–120 nSv (nanoSievert) per hour.
For reporting of nuclear/radiological emergencies, you may contact the Radiological Impact Assessment Section/Nuclear Response Support Center of the PNRI through (632) 929-6011 to 19 local 285 or 311
