Just in: #Fukushima I Nuke Plant Reactor 3 Spent Fuel Pool Cooling System Has Stopped (Now Resumed)

(UPDATE 4) Cooling of the Reactor 3 SFP resumed at 5:20PM (TEPCO's press conference).

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(UPDATE 3) TEPCO says they were setting up a fence around the power board in question to prevent "small animals" from entering, and a ground fault may have occurred, triggering the alarm and stopping the Reactor 3 SFP cooling. So it was the fear of a mouse, not a mouse itself, that may have caused the stoppage.

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(UPDATE 2) Alarm was sounded inside the Anti-seismic Building (headquarters at the plant), says Jiji, quoting Nuclear Regulatory Authority. That's rather odd.

(UPDATE) Jiji Tsushin reports TEPCO is expecting to resume cooling within today.

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Again, it seems to be from an electrical problem. Details not yet known. (Another mouse, I wonder?)

TEPCO's email to the press (4/5/2013):

福島第一原子力発電所３号機使用済燃料プール代替冷却システムの停止について

Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant Reactor 3 Spent Fuel Pool alternative cooling system stopped

本日４月５日午後２時27分頃、電源関係の動力盤故障警報が発生し、３号機使用済燃料プール代替冷却システムが停止していることを確認しました。

At 2:27PM today, April 5, there was an alarm indicating failure of a power board, and we confirmed that the alternative cooling system for the Reactor 3 Spent Fuel Pool had stopped.

現在、現場の状況を確認しているところです。

We are investigating the situation at the location right now.

本日（４月５日）午後２時時点の３号機使用済燃料プールの水温は15.1℃です。

The temperature of the Reactor 3 SFP as of 2PM today (April 5) is 15.1 degrees Celsius.

現時点で、モニタリングポストの値に変動はございません。

There is no change in radiation at monitoring posts.

本件について新たな状況が判明次第、お知らせ致します。

As soon as we find out more, we will let you know.

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