🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 55 (from laksa165)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa055.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-nuclear-plant-radioactive-water-leaking-months-674434\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-nuclear-plant-radioactive-water-leaking-months-674434\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-nuclear-plant-radioactive-water-leaking-months-674434","crawl_time":1776126451,"first_indexed_time":1532132501,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,newsweek!www,\/fukushima-nuclear-plant-radioactive-water-leaking-months-674434 s443","src_root_hash":"10153935897910600055","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: Radioactive Water May Have Been Leaking From Reactors for Months - Newsweek","meta_descriptions":["The estimated cost of the long-term cleanup following the nuclear disaster is $192 billion."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"The Japanese company in charge of cleaning up one of the world's worst nuclear disasters said Friday its latest error may have caused contaminated water to leak into the ground for nearly half a year.\nThe Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said it erroneously configured gauges used to measure groundwater levels in six wells near Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant reactors Nos. 1 through 4, all of which were destroyed when a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the Japanese coast and caused a series of meltdowns at the plant.\nRelated: \nFukushima's nuclear waste will be dumped into the ocean, Japanese plant owner says\nThe false readings, which have been relied on since April 19 and were discovered this week, meant that groundwater levels were actually more than two feet below what Tepco was measuring,\nThe Japan Times\n \nreported. The company said this mistake caused groundwater levels to fall below the limit set to prevent radioactive water from flowing out of the plant and into the nearby wells, known as subdrains, at least once, in May.\nTepco spokesperson Shinichi Nakakuk said, however, the company's readings did not show any significant increases in radioactivity outside of the facilities and that a leak was unlikely, according to\nSky News\n.\nRTSZXVI\nA Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) employee (center) speaks to the media in front of a monitor in the refrigerator building at the company’s Fukus...\n|\nTomohiro Ohsumi\/Pool\/Reuters\nBetween May 17 and May 21, groundwater reportedly fell as much as 7 and a half inches below the safety levels at least eight times. Tepco has not been able to determine how long the dangerous levels persisted because they only measure the site hourly. Company officials said they were still investigating the incident, according to Japan's NHK news outlet.\nMore than 15,000 people were killed when an earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan's east coast, where the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is located. The threat of radioactive contamination following meltdowns at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's Nos.1, 2 and 3 reactors, as well as massive damage to the fourth, forced 150,000 residents to evacuate,\nmost of whom have yet to return\n.\nSince the disaster, plant owner Tepco has struggled through the recovery process, the price tag of which was raised to $192 billion last year, according to\nReuters\n. The leading obstacle that the company faces is extracting the nuclear fuel that remains in the plant's damaged nuclear reactors. The severe radiation levels\nhave \"killed\" even robots\n specifically designed to swim underwater and detect the location of the melted nuclear fuel.\nLava-like rocks believed to be the elusive nuclear fuel were finally discovered in July using a small, custom-built robot known as \"\nLittle Sunfish\n,\" according to\nSky News\n. Actually removing the deadly substance, however, has once again been delayed and\nwould not likely begin until 2023\n, according to Japanese officials.\nRTS1225O\nA map showing the status of restricted areas affected by radiation from the Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant as of March 6. The nuclear disaster displaced...\n|\nJAPAN'S MINISTRY OF TRADE, ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY\/Reuters\nJapan's latest plan to clean up the site did not make any mention of what Tepco would do with about 777,000 tons of water contaminated with tritium, a nuclear byproduct that's notoriously difficult to remove once mixed with water. In July, Tepco chairman Takashi Kawamura said the \"decision has already been made\" to\ndump the tritium-tainted water into the Pacific Ocean\n; however, he later said he would need Tokyo's support to go through with the measure.\nWhile Tepco and experts have said dumping the tritium-laced water used to cool down the reactors into the ocean would be relatively harmless, local fishermen and environmental activists have condemned the potential solution, saying it would further hurt the already damaged reputation of the region.","attrs_markdown":"[Iran War Live Updates Maritime Warning Issued After U.S. Bllockade Deadline Passes](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/iran-war-live-trump-gives-time-naval-blockade-will-start-11818589)\n\n- [U.S.](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/us)\n  \n  - [News](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/news)\n  - [Politics](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/politics)\n  - [Tech](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/technology)\n  - [Fact Check](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fact-check)\n  - 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Energy](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/nuclear-energy)[Tokyo](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/tokyo)[Nuclear](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/nuclear)[Radiation](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/radiation)[Leak](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/leak)[Ocean](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/ocean)\n\nMore\n\nNews Article\n\n# Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: Radioactive Water May Have Been Leaking From Reactors for Months\n***\nPublished\n\nSep 29, 2017 at 12:54 PM EDT\n\nupdated\n\nSep 29, 2017 at 01:59 PM EDT\n\nBy Tom O'Connor\n\nSenior Writer, Foreign Policy & Deputy Editor, National Security and Foreign Policy\n\nShare\n\n[Newsweek is a Trust Project member](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/editorial-guidelines)\n\nPrefer Newsweek on Google\n\nto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.\n***\n\nThe Japanese company in charge of cleaning up one of the world's worst nuclear disasters said Friday its latest error may have caused contaminated water to leak into the ground for nearly half a year.\n\nThe Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said it erroneously configured gauges used to measure groundwater levels in six wells near Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant reactors Nos. 1 through 4, all of which were destroyed when a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the Japanese coast and caused a series of meltdowns at the plant.\n\n**Related: [Fukushima's nuclear waste will be dumped into the ocean, Japanese plant owner says](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-nuclear-waste-dumped-ocean-japanese-protests-637108)**\n\nThe false readings, which have been relied on since April 19 and were discovered this week, meant that groundwater levels were actually more than two feet below what Tepco was measuring, *[The Japan Times](https:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/news\/2017\/09\/29\/national\/radioactive-water-may-leaking-fukushima-reactor-buildings-since-april-tepco\/#.Wc5QObKGMdV)* reported. The company said this mistake caused groundwater levels to fall below the limit set to prevent radioactive water from flowing out of the plant and into the nearby wells, known as subdrains, at least once, in May.\n\nTepco spokesperson Shinichi Nakakuk said, however, the company's readings did not show any significant increases in radioactivity outside of the facilities and that a leak was unlikely, according to [Sky News](https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/fukushima-fears-radioactive-water-has-leaked-from-damaged-reactor-11059187).\n\nA Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) employee (center) speaks to the media in front of a monitor in the refrigerator building at the company’s Fukus...\n\nRead More\n\n\\| Tomohiro Ohsumi\/Pool\/Reuters\n\nBetween May 17 and May 21, groundwater reportedly fell as much as 7 and a half inches below the safety levels at least eight times. Tepco has not been able to determine how long the dangerous levels persisted because they only measure the site hourly. Company officials said they were still investigating the incident, according to Japan's NHK news outlet.\n\nMore than 15,000 people were killed when an earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan's east coast, where the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is located. The threat of radioactive contamination following meltdowns at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's Nos.1, 2 and 3 reactors, as well as massive damage to the fourth, forced 150,000 residents to evacuate, [most of whom have yet to return](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/nuclear-power-uncertain-future-post-fukushima-japan-568526).\n\nRead More\n\n#### World\n\n[Why the US and Iran Are Also Negotiating With Themselves](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/why-the-us-and-iran-are-also-negotiating-with-themselves-11812492)\n\n[Donald Trump, Pope Leo Popularity Compared Amid Iran War Feud](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/donald-trump-pope-leo-popularity-compared-iran-war-feud-11822124)\n\n[More Related Stories](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/world)\n\nSince the disaster, plant owner Tepco has struggled through the recovery process, the price tag of which was raised to \\$192 billion last year, according to [Reuters](https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/japan-court-rules-tepco-liable-over-fukushima-media-070253819--business.html). The leading obstacle that the company faces is extracting the nuclear fuel that remains in the plant's damaged nuclear reactors. The severe radiation levels [have \"killed\" even robots](https:\/\/www.ibtimes.com\/fukushima-news-unimaginable-nuclear-reactor-radiation-so-destructive-not-even-robots-2489802) specifically designed to swim underwater and detect the location of the melted nuclear fuel.\n\nLava-like rocks believed to be the elusive nuclear fuel were finally discovered in July using a small, custom-built robot known as \"[Little Sunfish](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-nuclear-new-images-radioactive-ractor-robot-fuel-639376),\" according to [Sky News](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-nuclear-new-images-radioactive-ractor-robot-fuel-639376). Actually removing the deadly substance, however, has once again been delayed and [would not likely begin until 2023](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-cleanup-highly-radioactive-nuclear-fuel-will-remain-reactors-until-671457), according to Japanese officials.\n\nA map showing the status of restricted areas affected by radiation from the Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant as of March 6. The nuclear disaster displaced...\n\nRead More\n\n\\| JAPAN'S MINISTRY OF TRADE, ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY\/Reuters\n\nJapan's latest plan to clean up the site did not make any mention of what Tepco would do with about 777,000 tons of water contaminated with tritium, a nuclear byproduct that's notoriously difficult to remove once mixed with water. In July, Tepco chairman Takashi Kawamura said the \"decision has already been made\" to [dump the tritium-tainted water into the Pacific Ocean](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-nuclear-waste-dumped-ocean-japanese-protests-637108); however, he later said he would need Tokyo's support to go through with the measure.\n\nWhile Tepco and experts have said dumping the tritium-laced water used to cool down the reactors into the ocean would be relatively harmless, local fishermen and environmental activists have condemned the potential solution, saying it would further hurt the already damaged reputation of the region.\n\n[Request Reprint & Licensing](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/contact)\n\nSubmit Correction\n\n[View Editorial & AI Guidelines](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/editorial-guidelines)\n\n***\nPrefer Newsweek on Google\n\nto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.\n\n## Recommended For You\n[News](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/news)\n\n[France Pulls All Gold Out of US 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Us](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/contact)\n\n### terms of use\n- [Cookie Policy](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/cookie-policy)\n- [Copyright](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/copyright)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/privacy-policy)\n- [Terms & Conditions](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/terms-service)\n- [Terms of Sale](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/terms-sale)\n- Privacy Settings\n\n© 2026 Newsweek Digital LLC\n\n![](https:\/\/sb.scorecardresearch.com\/p?c1=2&c2=6972086&cv=4.4.0&cj=1)\n\n![](https:\/\/di.rlcdn.com\/api\/segment?pid=468096&pdata=prop%3Dnw_site) ![](https:\/\/cnv.event.prod.bidr.io\/log\/cnv?tag_id=177&buzz_key=adprime&value=&segment_key=adprime-3145&account_id=2)","attrs_readable_markdown":"The Japanese company in charge of cleaning up one of the world's worst nuclear disasters said Friday its latest error may have caused contaminated water to leak into the ground for nearly half a year.\n\nThe Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said it erroneously configured gauges used to measure groundwater levels in six wells near Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant reactors Nos. 1 through 4, all of which were destroyed when a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the Japanese coast and caused a series of meltdowns at the plant.\n\n**Related: [Fukushima's nuclear waste will be dumped into the ocean, Japanese plant owner says](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-nuclear-waste-dumped-ocean-japanese-protests-637108)**\n\nThe false readings, which have been relied on since April 19 and were discovered this week, meant that groundwater levels were actually more than two feet below what Tepco was measuring, *[The Japan Times](https:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/news\/2017\/09\/29\/national\/radioactive-water-may-leaking-fukushima-reactor-buildings-since-april-tepco\/#.Wc5QObKGMdV)* reported. The company said this mistake caused groundwater levels to fall below the limit set to prevent radioactive water from flowing out of the plant and into the nearby wells, known as subdrains, at least once, in May.\n\nTepco spokesperson Shinichi Nakakuk said, however, the company's readings did not show any significant increases in radioactivity outside of the facilities and that a leak was unlikely, according to [Sky News](https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/fukushima-fears-radioactive-water-has-leaked-from-damaged-reactor-11059187).\n\nA Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) employee (center) speaks to the media in front of a monitor in the refrigerator building at the company’s Fukus... \\| Tomohiro Ohsumi\/Pool\/Reuters\n\nBetween May 17 and May 21, groundwater reportedly fell as much as 7 and a half inches below the safety levels at least eight times. Tepco has not been able to determine how long the dangerous levels persisted because they only measure the site hourly. Company officials said they were still investigating the incident, according to Japan's NHK news outlet.\n\nMore than 15,000 people were killed when an earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan's east coast, where the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is located. The threat of radioactive contamination following meltdowns at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's Nos.1, 2 and 3 reactors, as well as massive damage to the fourth, forced 150,000 residents to evacuate, [most of whom have yet to return](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/nuclear-power-uncertain-future-post-fukushima-japan-568526).\n\nSince the disaster, plant owner Tepco has struggled through the recovery process, the price tag of which was raised to \\$192 billion last year, according to [Reuters](https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/japan-court-rules-tepco-liable-over-fukushima-media-070253819--business.html). The leading obstacle that the company faces is extracting the nuclear fuel that remains in the plant's damaged nuclear reactors. The severe radiation levels [have \"killed\" even robots](https:\/\/www.ibtimes.com\/fukushima-news-unimaginable-nuclear-reactor-radiation-so-destructive-not-even-robots-2489802) specifically designed to swim underwater and detect the location of the melted nuclear fuel.\n\nLava-like rocks believed to be the elusive nuclear fuel were finally discovered in July using a small, custom-built robot known as \"[Little Sunfish](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-nuclear-new-images-radioactive-ractor-robot-fuel-639376),\" according to [Sky News](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-nuclear-new-images-radioactive-ractor-robot-fuel-639376). Actually removing the deadly substance, however, has once again been delayed and [would not likely begin until 2023](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-cleanup-highly-radioactive-nuclear-fuel-will-remain-reactors-until-671457), according to Japanese officials.\n\nA map showing the status of restricted areas affected by radiation from the Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant as of March 6. The nuclear disaster displaced... \\| JAPAN'S MINISTRY OF TRADE, ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY\/Reuters\n\nJapan's latest plan to clean up the site did not make any mention of what Tepco would do with about 777,000 tons of water contaminated with tritium, a nuclear byproduct that's notoriously difficult to remove once mixed with water. In July, Tepco chairman Takashi Kawamura said the \"decision has already been made\" to [dump the tritium-tainted water into the Pacific Ocean](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/fukushima-nuclear-waste-dumped-ocean-japanese-protests-637108); however, he later said he would need Tokyo's support to go through with the measure.\n\nWhile Tepco and experts have said dumping the tritium-laced water used to cool down the reactors into the ocean would be relatively harmless, local fishermen and environmental activists have condemned the potential solution, saying it would further hurt the already damaged reputation of the region.","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	The Japanese company in charge of cleaning up one of the world's worst nuclear disasters said Friday its latest error may have caused contaminated water to leak into the ground for nearly half a year. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said it erroneously configured gauges used to measure groundwater levels in six wells near Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant reactors Nos. 1 through 4, all of which were destroyed when a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the Japanese coast and caused a series of meltdowns at the plant. Related: Fukushima's nuclear waste will be dumped into the ocean, Japanese plant owner says The false readings, which have been relied on since April 19 and were discovered this week, meant that groundwater levels were actually more than two feet below what Tepco was measuring, The Japan Times reported. The company said this mistake caused groundwater levels to fall below the limit set to prevent radioactive water from flowing out of the plant and into the nearby wells, known as subdrains, at least once, in May. Tepco spokesperson Shinichi Nakakuk said, however, the company's readings did not show any significant increases in radioactivity outside of the facilities and that a leak was unlikely, according to Sky News . RTSZXVI A Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) employee (center) speaks to the media in front of a monitor in the refrigerator building at the company’s Fukus... \| Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool/Reuters Between May 17 and May 21, groundwater reportedly fell as much as 7 and a half inches below the safety levels at least eight times. Tepco has not been able to determine how long the dangerous levels persisted because they only measure the site hourly. Company officials said they were still investigating the incident, according to Japan's NHK news outlet. More than 15,000 people were killed when an earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan's east coast, where the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is located. The threat of radioactive contamination following meltdowns at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's Nos.1, 2 and 3 reactors, as well as massive damage to the fourth, forced 150,000 residents to evacuate, most of whom have yet to return . Since the disaster, plant owner Tepco has struggled through the recovery process, the price tag of which was raised to $192 billion last year, according to Reuters . The leading obstacle that the company faces is extracting the nuclear fuel that remains in the plant's damaged nuclear reactors. The severe radiation levels have "killed" even robots specifically designed to swim underwater and detect the location of the melted nuclear fuel. Lava-like rocks believed to be the elusive nuclear fuel were finally discovered in July using a small, custom-built robot known as " Little Sunfish ," according to Sky News . Actually removing the deadly substance, however, has once again been delayed and would not likely begin until 2023 , according to Japanese officials. RTS1225O A map showing the status of restricted areas affected by radiation from the Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant as of March 6. The nuclear disaster displaced... \| JAPAN'S MINISTRY OF TRADE, ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY/Reuters Japan's latest plan to clean up the site did not make any mention of what Tepco would do with about 777,000 tons of water contaminated with tritium, a nuclear byproduct that's notoriously difficult to remove once mixed with water. In July, Tepco chairman Takashi Kawamura said the "decision has already been made" to dump the tritium-tainted water into the Pacific Ocean ; however, he later said he would need Tokyo's support to go through with the measure. While Tepco and experts have said dumping the tritium-laced water used to cool down the reactors into the ocean would be relatively harmless, local fishermen and environmental activists have condemned the potential solution, saying it would further hurt the already damaged reputation of the region.
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The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said it erroneously configured gauges used to measure groundwater levels in six wells near Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant reactors Nos. 1 through 4, all of which were destroyed when a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the Japanese coast and caused a series of meltdowns at the plant. Related: [Fukushima's nuclear waste will be dumped into the ocean, Japanese plant owner says](https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-nuclear-waste-dumped-ocean-japanese-protests-637108) The false readings, which have been relied on since April 19 and were discovered this week, meant that groundwater levels were actually more than two feet below what Tepco was measuring, [The Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/09/29/national/radioactive-water-may-leaking-fukushima-reactor-buildings-since-april-tepco/#.Wc5QObKGMdV) reported. The company said this mistake caused groundwater levels to fall below the limit set to prevent radioactive water from flowing out of the plant and into the nearby wells, known as subdrains, at least once, in May. Tepco spokesperson Shinichi Nakakuk said, however, the company's readings did not show any significant increases in radioactivity outside of the facilities and that a leak was unlikely, according to [Sky News](https://news.sky.com/story/fukushima-fears-radioactive-water-has-leaked-from-damaged-reactor-11059187). A Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) employee (center) speaks to the media in front of a monitor in the refrigerator building at the company’s Fukus... Read More \\| Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool/Reuters Between May 17 and May 21, groundwater reportedly fell as much as 7 and a half inches below the safety levels at least eight times. Tepco has not been able to determine how long the dangerous levels persisted because they only measure the site hourly. Company officials said they were still investigating the incident, according to Japan's NHK news outlet. More than 15,000 people were killed when an earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan's east coast, where the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is located. The threat of radioactive contamination following meltdowns at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's Nos.1, 2 and 3 reactors, as well as massive damage to the fourth, forced 150,000 residents to evacuate, [most of whom have yet to return](https://www.newsweek.com/nuclear-power-uncertain-future-post-fukushima-japan-568526). Read More #### World [Why the US and Iran Are Also Negotiating With Themselves](https://www.newsweek.com/why-the-us-and-iran-are-also-negotiating-with-themselves-11812492) [Donald Trump, Pope Leo Popularity Compared Amid Iran War Feud](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-pope-leo-popularity-compared-iran-war-feud-11822124) [More Related Stories](https://www.newsweek.com/world) Since the disaster, plant owner Tepco has struggled through the recovery process, the price tag of which was raised to \$192 billion last year, according to [Reuters](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/japan-court-rules-tepco-liable-over-fukushima-media-070253819--business.html). The leading obstacle that the company faces is extracting the nuclear fuel that remains in the plant's damaged nuclear reactors. The severe radiation levels [have "killed" even robots](https://www.ibtimes.com/fukushima-news-unimaginable-nuclear-reactor-radiation-so-destructive-not-even-robots-2489802) specifically designed to swim underwater and detect the location of the melted nuclear fuel. Lava-like rocks believed to be the elusive nuclear fuel were finally discovered in July using a small, custom-built robot known as "[Little Sunfish](https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-nuclear-new-images-radioactive-ractor-robot-fuel-639376)," according to [Sky News](https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-nuclear-new-images-radioactive-ractor-robot-fuel-639376). Actually removing the deadly substance, however, has once again been delayed and [would not likely begin until 2023](https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-cleanup-highly-radioactive-nuclear-fuel-will-remain-reactors-until-671457), according to Japanese officials. A map showing the status of restricted areas affected by radiation from the Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant as of March 6. The nuclear disaster displaced... Read More \\| JAPAN'S MINISTRY OF TRADE, ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY/Reuters Japan's latest plan to clean up the site did not make any mention of what Tepco would do with about 777,000 tons of water contaminated with tritium, a nuclear byproduct that's notoriously difficult to remove once mixed with water. In July, Tepco chairman Takashi Kawamura said the "decision has already been made" to [dump the tritium-tainted water into the Pacific Ocean](https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-nuclear-waste-dumped-ocean-japanese-protests-637108); however, he later said he would need Tokyo's support to go through with the measure. While Tepco and experts have said dumping the tritium-laced water used to cool down the reactors into the ocean would be relatively harmless, local fishermen and environmental activists have condemned the potential solution, saying it would further hurt the already damaged reputation of the region. 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Readable Markdown	The Japanese company in charge of cleaning up one of the world's worst nuclear disasters said Friday its latest error may have caused contaminated water to leak into the ground for nearly half a year. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said it erroneously configured gauges used to measure groundwater levels in six wells near Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant reactors Nos. 1 through 4, all of which were destroyed when a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the Japanese coast and caused a series of meltdowns at the plant. Related: [Fukushima's nuclear waste will be dumped into the ocean, Japanese plant owner says](https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-nuclear-waste-dumped-ocean-japanese-protests-637108) The false readings, which have been relied on since April 19 and were discovered this week, meant that groundwater levels were actually more than two feet below what Tepco was measuring, [The Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/09/29/national/radioactive-water-may-leaking-fukushima-reactor-buildings-since-april-tepco/#.Wc5QObKGMdV) reported. The company said this mistake caused groundwater levels to fall below the limit set to prevent radioactive water from flowing out of the plant and into the nearby wells, known as subdrains, at least once, in May. Tepco spokesperson Shinichi Nakakuk said, however, the company's readings did not show any significant increases in radioactivity outside of the facilities and that a leak was unlikely, according to [Sky News](https://news.sky.com/story/fukushima-fears-radioactive-water-has-leaked-from-damaged-reactor-11059187). A Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) employee (center) speaks to the media in front of a monitor in the refrigerator building at the company’s Fukus... \\| Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool/Reuters Between May 17 and May 21, groundwater reportedly fell as much as 7 and a half inches below the safety levels at least eight times. Tepco has not been able to determine how long the dangerous levels persisted because they only measure the site hourly. Company officials said they were still investigating the incident, according to Japan's NHK news outlet. More than 15,000 people were killed when an earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan's east coast, where the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is located. The threat of radioactive contamination following meltdowns at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's Nos.1, 2 and 3 reactors, as well as massive damage to the fourth, forced 150,000 residents to evacuate, [most of whom have yet to return](https://www.newsweek.com/nuclear-power-uncertain-future-post-fukushima-japan-568526). Since the disaster, plant owner Tepco has struggled through the recovery process, the price tag of which was raised to \$192 billion last year, according to [Reuters](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/japan-court-rules-tepco-liable-over-fukushima-media-070253819--business.html). The leading obstacle that the company faces is extracting the nuclear fuel that remains in the plant's damaged nuclear reactors. The severe radiation levels [have "killed" even robots](https://www.ibtimes.com/fukushima-news-unimaginable-nuclear-reactor-radiation-so-destructive-not-even-robots-2489802) specifically designed to swim underwater and detect the location of the melted nuclear fuel. Lava-like rocks believed to be the elusive nuclear fuel were finally discovered in July using a small, custom-built robot known as "[Little Sunfish](https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-nuclear-new-images-radioactive-ractor-robot-fuel-639376)," according to [Sky News](https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-nuclear-new-images-radioactive-ractor-robot-fuel-639376). Actually removing the deadly substance, however, has once again been delayed and [would not likely begin until 2023](https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-cleanup-highly-radioactive-nuclear-fuel-will-remain-reactors-until-671457), according to Japanese officials. A map showing the status of restricted areas affected by radiation from the Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant as of March 6. The nuclear disaster displaced... \\| JAPAN'S MINISTRY OF TRADE, ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY/Reuters Japan's latest plan to clean up the site did not make any mention of what Tepco would do with about 777,000 tons of water contaminated with tritium, a nuclear byproduct that's notoriously difficult to remove once mixed with water. In July, Tepco chairman Takashi Kawamura said the "decision has already been made" to [dump the tritium-tainted water into the Pacific Ocean](https://www.newsweek.com/fukushima-nuclear-waste-dumped-ocean-japanese-protests-637108); however, he later said he would need Tokyo's support to go through with the measure. While Tepco and experts have said dumping the tritium-laced water used to cool down the reactors into the ocean would be relatively harmless, local fishermen and environmental activists have condemned the potential solution, saying it would further hurt the already damaged reputation of the region.
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