Operators ignored tsunami threat to Fukushima plant
Japan failed to take necessary precautions to protect the Fukushima nuclear power plant against the known risk of an earthquake and tsunami, according to a draft report by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The plant “had some weaknesses which were not fully evaluated by a probabilistic safety assessment, as recommended by the IAEA safety standards”, the agency’s draft report said, cited by Kyodo News agency.
A new approach applied between 2007 and 2009 postulated a magnitude-8.3 quake off the coast of Fukushima, with a possible tsunami of around 15m hitting the plant and inundating the complex, the UN nuclear agency said.
Despite the analysis, the country’s now-defunct Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency and the operator Tokyo Electric Power Co did not take measures to counter such a large tsunami, declaring “further studies and investigations were needed”.
The report addressing the causes and consequences of the disaster as well as lessons learned is expected to serve as a reference for nuclear safety measures worldwide, Kyodo said.
About 180 experts from 42 countries contributed to the report, which is set to be submitted to the IAEA’s annual meeting in September. — DPA
Junior counsel assisting, Sophie Callan had few friends and no standing with any of the people or groups he sought to influence.
Counsel assisting, Jeremy Gormly SC, told the court that by 2014, after being charged over sexual assaults, being treated for episodes of mental illness and apparently being out of money, Monis looked like “a man spiralling downwards”.
Callan said while trying to join a bikie gang may seem an unremarkable chapter in Monis’ life, his willingness to change his appearance, “adopt the garb of a new persona” and his attraction to a group “he perhaps saw as exercising power and influence” was not surprising. “His constant goal in life appears to have been achieving significance,” she said.
Monis’ psychiatrist will be among those called to give evidence as the inquest pieces together how the tragedy could occur. How Monis progressed from Iranian student of Islam to a shotgun-wielding extremist is the focus of the first stage of the coronial inquest.
Gormly said a psychologist and psychiatrist who treated Monis for mental health complaints as recently as 2011 would be among more than 100 witnesses. But while Monis “unquestionably” had some mental health issues they appeared to be modest, Gormly said.
Coroner Michael Barnes said the first stage, covering two weeks, will look deeply into Monis’ background to identify how he was diverted “down such a dangerous pathway”. — AAP