‘No danger at Fukushima’

Temperature readings at one of the Fukushima nuclear reactors have risen above Japan’s stringent new safety standard but there was no immediate danger, its operator said.

Tokyo Electric Power said one of three thermometers on the number-two reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant indicated gradual heating this month and reached 82° Celsius yesterday.

The temperature was above the 80° safety standard newly employed by Japan’s nuclear safety authority, prompting the utility to publicise the reading and notify public agencies.

But it remains below the 100° level the government says is needed to maintain the safe state of “cold shutdown”.

The utility said it will check the accuracy of the thermometer, as two others on the same reactor have been measuring its temperature at around 35°.