13hours of continuous hosing, Tokyo Fire Department discharge 2400tons of water. Mar 20, 2011 05.46
The full-scale hosing by the emergency fire support team from Tokyo Fire Dept. in the cooling down operation of No. 3 unit at Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant finished on 20th at 3.40am. It started on 19th after 2pm and went on continuously for approximately 13.5 hours. Mathematically, total of over 2400tons of sea water was discharged.
The seawater was pumped by “Super pumper” placed on waterfront side of the plant and sent by hoses to the refracting water tower vehicle capable of discharging from the maximum height of 22 metres. Approximately 3t of water was discharged per minute continuously which equates to about 2430t in 13.5 hours. The volume of the storage pool for used fuel materials in No. 3 unit is about 1000t, therefore, even if the pool was empty, the operation would have sufficed and exceeded the pool capacity.
The refracting water tower vehicle can be operated unmanned and most of the 13.5hours of operation is thought to have been carried out unmanned during which time, refueling needed to be made to the vehicle. 14 more vehicles and additional 102 personnel were sent to the site from Tokyo Fire Dept on 19th to replace the first 139 personnel.
The sound of piling echoes at affected areas. Start of building temporary houses - Iwate Mar 19, 2011 13.10
The building of the first temporary houses at East Japan earthquake disaster stricken places started on the morning of 19th at Rikuzen-Takada city and Kamaishi City of Iwate Prefecture. At Rikuzen-Takada City, 36 houses will be built on middle (junior high) school grounds by the end of March, with the prospect of building 200 houses in the end. Kamaishi City plans to build about 100. Ofunato City in the same prefecture and Soma City in Fukushima Pref are also set to start building soon.
According to Land and Transport Ministry, 8800, 10,000, 14,000 temporary houses are needed in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures respectively. The building will commence as soon as land and materials are secured. At the foundation laying ceremony at Takada No.1 Middle School in Rikuzen-Takada City, Mayor Toba said, “We must move forward. This foundation laying is encouraging for residents.” The housing consists of two rooms totaling approximately 30square metres with a kitchen, a bathroom, a toilet and heating. The person in charge at the prefecture said, “We want the original community to stay together if at all possible. A community centre for every 50 houses is also planned.
