Radioactive steam and water are continuing to leak from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station, more than two years after the meltdown of reactors, which caused the world’s second-worst nuclear accident.

Tokyo Electric Power Co confirmed yesterday that steam of unknown origin leaked from the third of its six reactors yesterday, although the discharge appeared to have stopped by the afternoon. The day before, Tepco finally admitted what Japan’s nuclear regulator said this month — that radioactive water from the plant is seeping into the sea.

The company has also made another late acknowledgement of what many Japanese have suspected and feared — that the health effects of the radiation released from the plant are likely to be more serious than the plant has so far recognised.

Close to 2,000 people who have worked in the plant are likely to have been exposed to radiation levels with the potential to increase the risk of cancer, according to a Tepco statement on Friday. “We are very sorry for causing concerns,” Masayuki Ono, a Tepco official, said.. “We have made efforts not to cause any leak to the outside, but we might have failed to do so . . . We would like to offer our deep apology for causing grave worries for many people.”

In March 2011 nuclear fuel rods in three of the plant’s six reactors melted down after electricity and cooling systems were knocked out by a huge tsunami. Since then, Tepco has succeeded in cooling the reactors with the constant injection of water, while it works out how to achieve something never before done — removing the remains of highly radioactive fuel rods inside leaking reactors.

FULL STORY: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/asia/article3823598.ece