후쿠시마 원전 지면 포장 41곳 균열...불안감 확산<br /><br />Dozens of cracks have been discovered in facilities built to contain radiation at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant.<br />While the Japanese government insists it's safe,... problems are continuing to sprout up in the area,... leaving many concerned about the ongoing threat of contamination.<br />Lee Seung-jae has more. <br />This is the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant that suffered an explosion during the massive earthquake on March 11th, 2011.<br />After the devastation caused at the plant,.. officials decided to contain any possible radiation leaks using slabs of mortar. <br />However,... a recent report by the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Shimbun revealed Sunday,... that 41 cracks have been found in the plant's concrete floor.<br />It says the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, appears to have neglected the facilities, with inspectors discovering weeds growing through the concrete,... clearly indicating the cracks have been around for a while.<br />While underground reactors continue to feed water to cool dissolved nuclear fuel,... rainwater which has been seeping through the cracks is increasing the amount of contaminated water.<br />Inspectors have raised the issue with TEPCO, requesting maintenance work,... but the Japanese government has constantly insisted there are no issues.<br />Following a massive typhoon that struck Fukushima last month,... bags containing radioactive waste were found floating in a nearby river.<br />Despite what the Japanese government might say,... environmentalists say it's becoming increasingly more difficult not to be concerned about such a serious situation.<br />Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News. <br />
