> From: "Jed Rothwell" > He says "this may seem like a strange thing to say . . . but the explosion > wasn't a terribly important event."
NYT : http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/world/asia/japan-fukushima-nuclear-reactor.html The explosion was in the outer container, leaving the main reactor vessel unharmed, according to Tokyo Electric’s reports to the International Atomic Energy Agency. (The walls of the outer building blew apart, as they are designed to do, rather than allow a buildup of pressure that could damage the reactor vessel.) and To pump in the water, the Japanese have apparently tried used fire-fighting equipment — hardly the usual procedure. Perhaps this is a greater long-term concern: ... there was deep concern that spent nuclear fuel that was kept in a “cooling pond” inside one of the plants had been exposed and begun letting off potentially deadly gamma radiation.
