Oil leaks found near sea close to troubled Fukushima plant

Operator of the troubled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant discovered that oil has been leaking into the sea close to the facility, the Kyodo News reported Tuesday.

The operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) stated the oil leaks had been possibly from nearby oil tanks that may possibly have been damaged inside the March earthquake and tsunami, and it would set up oil fences to avoid the liquid from pouring into the Pacific Ocean.

The oil leaks had been discovered at 8 a.m. by TEPCO workers. Tokyo Electric suspects that the oil may have leaked from tanks located near the water intake for the Nos. 5 and 6 reactors or pipes that deliver the oil, due to the fact the March 11 disaster took place when a tanker was supplying oil, based on the Kyodo report.

The leakage was reported to have remained within the breakwater. The Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama said the leaks' impact on areas outside the breakwater is likely to be "extremely limited" so far.

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