Radiation Detectors Around Nuclear Plant Went 'Offline' During Japan's Noto Earthquake

It has been confirmed that due to communication failures during the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that occurred on the 1st of last month in the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, central Honshu, Japan, data could not be obtained from some radiation dose measuring instruments around the Shika Nuclear Power Plant located in the area.

In Wajima City on the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, roads and houses have collapsed due to the impact of a strong earthquake. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to NHK on the 7th, the Nuclear Regulation Authority Secretariat, the Nuclear Regulation Agency, reported at the Nuclear Regulation Committee meeting held that day that measurement data from radiation dose measuring instruments installed around the Shika Nuclear Power Plant were gradually obtained as communication was restored.

A total of 116 radiation dose measuring instruments are installed around the Shika Nuclear Power Plant. However, after the Noto earthquake, data could not be temporarily obtained from up to 18 locations. The instruments use various communication methods such as wired communication and mobile phones, but due to this earthquake, it appears that none of these instruments were usable. However, it is understood that the instruments themselves suffered little damage.

The Nuclear Regulation Agency plans to diversify monitoring methods by enabling the use of multiple communication providers and introducing drones capable of measuring radiation doses.

Previously, during the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, when the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant explosion accident occurred due to a tsunami, 23 out of 24 radiation dose measuring instruments installed in Fukushima Prefecture malfunctioned, making it difficult to grasp radiation levels. As a result, many residents evacuated to areas with high radiation levels, which ironically led to radiation exposure incidents.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.