Fukushima: Underwater video shows radioactive power plant ruins

A remote-controlled robot has plunged into the radiation-polluted waters of the Fukushima power plant. He even managed to capture images of molten nuclear fuel lying in the murky depths of a reactor. According to plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), engineers sent a remote-controlled submarine down into the bowels of Unit 1 on February 9 as part of clean-up operations at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. The Fukushima nuclear disaster happened on March 11, 2011. Three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan suffered meltdowns after an earthquake and a 15-meter high tsunami. Due to the escaping radioactive radiation, 160,000 residents had to be evacuated. Now the engineers are trying to find out how the highly radioactive residues can be removed. The radiation in the depths of the plant is still too dangerous for humans. The camera managed to capture some snaps of nuclear fuel that had melted and fallen to the bottom of the damaged reactor. But efforts do not remain focused solely on removing this physical nuclear waste. The highly radioactive water that flooded the power plant is also a problem. Plans are underway to dump some of this contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean, but the idea has sparked a storm of controversy. The entire decommissioning process is expected to be completed in 30 to 40 years.