23 March, 20:00 UTC the IAEA reported the following updates on the status of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
The lights are working in Unit 3’s main control room.
Wednesday black smoke was seen at the Unit 3 reactor building. Apparently there was no concommittant rise in radiation levels, but until this was ascertained workers were evacuated from Units 3 and 4. The emission of smoke has now decreased significantly and workers have returned to the site.
Two workers who were laying electric cables and were exposed to high radiation levels are now in hospital.
Crews continued today to use a concrete pump truck to deliver high volumes of water into the Unit 4 spent fuel pool, where there are concerns of inadequate water coverage over the fuel assemblies.
Thursday morning white vapour was seen rising from Units 1-4. It is believed that this is steam from the spent fuel pools.
Workers have successfully restored off-site power to the Units 5 and 6 which had been powered by emergency diesel generators.
A more detailed status update is available from the Wall Street Journal.
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