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Japan-Update

Nuclear fuel likely melted through Fukushima reactor vessel

Camera finds hole, deadly radiation levels in No. 2 reactor

Images from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant's No. 2 reactor revealed a hole thought to be made by fuel leaking out of the pressure vessel.

TOKYO -- Melted fuel likely leaked out into a reactor's containment vessel at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and is emitting deadly radiation inside, Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings reported on Thursday.

Tepco inspected the inside of the No. 2 reactor's containment vessel in late January by inserting a camera on a telescoping pole. The resulting images showed a 1-sq.-meter hole apparently melted into a steel-grating walkway directly beneath the reactor pressure vessel, all but confirming that there was a leak.

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