Nuke Leak Will Take Months to Plug

BBC News reports:

The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has said it expects to bring the crisis under control within nine months.

Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) said it aimed to reduce radiation leaks in three months and to cool the reactors within an extra three to six months.

The utility said it also plans to cover the reactor building, which was hit by a huge quake and tsunami on 11 March.

It came as the US pledged to support Japan's reconstruction efforts.

Radiation levels in the sea near reactor 2 rose to 6,500 times the legal limit on Friday, up from 1,100 times a day earlier, says Tepco, raising fears of fresh leaks.

Tsunehisa Katsumata, the chairman of Tepco, Asia's largest utility, told a news conference in Tokyo on Sunday that they would need up to nine months to bring the plant to ''cold shutdown''.

He said the plan would allow the tens of thousands of residents evacuated from the area around the power plant to return home as soon as possible.

"We sincerely apologise for causing troubles," Mr Katsumata said. "We are doing our utmost to prevent the crisis from further worsening."

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