Robot probe finds lethal 11 sieverts in water near bottom of Fukushima reactor 1 vessel

FUKUSHIMA – A radiation level of 11 sieverts per hour has been detected in tainted water inside a reactor containment vessel at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. said Tuesday. The reading was measured in a survey using a robot on Sunday at a point some 30 cm above the bottom of the containment vessel of the plant's reactor 1. This is the highest radiation level detected in water inside the containment vessel. If exposed to this level of radiation, a person likely would die in about 40 minutes. The survey showed accumulation of sandy substances at the bottom, but Tepco said it does not believe they are melted nuclear fuel.