Japan official vows help in resolving nuke crisis

Japan's industry minister pledged urgent government action Monday to curb leaks of radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant, according to AP. Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters that lax maintenance by the plant's operator was largely to blame for the series of leaks from storage tanks at the plant, which was damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011. "The urgency of the situation is very high," Motegi said. "From here on the government will take charge." The leaks have shaken confidence in the reliability of about 1,000 tanks that are crucial for storing water that has been pumped into three damaged reactors to keep their radioactive fuel cool. At least five of the tanks at the plant on Japan's northeastern coast have leaked. Last week, the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., said 300 tons (300,000 liters, 80,000 gallons) of highly contaminated water had flowed from one tank, in the worst leak so far. Most of the water is thought to have seeped into the ground, but some may have entered the sea through a rainwater gutter, it said. The tanks contain nearly 300,000 tons (300 million liters, 80 million gallons) of partially treated radioactive water. Motegi, who toured the plant on Monday, said inspections of the tanks would be doubled to four times a day. "Water control is a very important issue. We have to prevent contaminated water from reaching the sea," he said