The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, which was devastated by an accident in 2011, continues to show severe damage and radioactive debris. New images filmed by a robot inside reactor number 1, which was one of the three reactors whose cores melted down after an earthquake followed by a tsunami, reveal significant damage to its foundations and radioactive debris. Although there are areas inside that cannot yet be examined, the damage is believed to be extensive in many places. Experts predict that it will take several decades to decontaminate and dismantle Fukushima.
Removal of the radioactive debris can only be done by remote-controlled robots, but the pandemic and technical difficulties have delayed the start of this extremely complex operation. In addition, robots using semiconductors are not performing as well as expected due to the high levels of radiation in the reactors.
Fukushima Prefecture Governor Masao Uchibori urged Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), the plant’s operator, to conduct new seismic tests for fear that the situation will worsen if another natural disaster occurs. The Fukushima Daiichi plant remains a major safety and public health challenge and is expected to remain so for a long time to come.