Radioactive sand bags reach the level of radiation of 4.4 sieverts per hour, which is fatal to humans.
From next week, robots will begin to remove sand bags in the Japanese Fukushima nuclear power plant. Shortly after its accident in 2011, they were to absorb contaminated radioactive water, the spokesman of the power plant operator said on Friday. This is reported to TASR, according to the AFP report.
Tepco claims that no one manipulated with bags in the underground parts of the complex of two buildings from the accident. According to a spokesman for Tatsuuyu Matoba, the level of radiation of bags reach 4.4 sieverts per hour and “people could die if they approached them”.
AFP reports that 2850 bags have been placed in the area to be collected. Tepco estimates their weight at a total of 41.5 tons.
Removing will take two years
Moving arm robots specifically designed for this task were deployed in the area on Wednesday. Workers will use them to move bags from the underground floors of the power plant and all are to be removed by the end of 2027. Radioactive bags are then placed in radioactive waste containers in front of the power plant buildings.
Three of the six reactors of Fukushima, in 2011, destroyed a strong earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which also claimed more than 18,000 victims and huge material damage.
In addition to radioactive sacks with sand, there are still approximately 800 tons of radioactive waste around the power plant. Last year, its testing began.
