The Japanese government announced Tuesday (August 22) it has decided to start releasing nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean on Thursday (August 24).

The decision was made amid strong opposition from neighbouring and Pacific island countries, as well as local fishermen over the irreversible impacts on the marine environment and public health.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, hit by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and an ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011, suffered core meltdowns that released radiation.

In April 2021, the Japanese government announced its controversial plan to release nuclear-contaminated water from the facility into the Pacific Ocean, and said in January this year that the discharge will start "in the spring or summer."

STORY: Japan to start ocean discharge of Fukushima nuke wastewater Thursday
DATELINE: Aug. 22, 2023
LENGTH: 00:00:51
LOCATION: Tokyo
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant
2. various of people opposing
3. various of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and local fishermen

STORYLINE:

The Japanese government announced Tuesday it has decided to start releasing nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean on Thursday.

The decision was made amid strong opposition from neighboring and Pacific island countries, as well as local fishermen over the irreversible impacts on the marine environment and public health.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, hit by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and an ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011, suffered core meltdowns that released radiation.

In April 2021, the Japanese government announced its controversial plan to release nuclear-contaminated water from the facility into the Pacific Ocean, and said in January this year that the discharge will start "in the spring or summer."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tokyo.
(XHTV)