Fukushima at increased earthquake risk, says Japanese scientists in new report

Tokyo, Feb.15 (ANI): Seismic risk at the Fukushima nuclear plant has increased after the magnitude 9 earthquake that hit Japan last March, scientists report.

The new study, which uses data from over 6,000 earthquakes, shows the 11 March tremor caused a seismic fault close to the nuclear plant to reactivate.

The results are now published in Solid Earth, an open-access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU).

The research suggests authorities should strengthen the security of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to withstand large earthquakes that are likely to directly disturb the region.

The power plant witnessed one of the worst nuclear disasters in history after it was damaged by the 11 March 2011 magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami.

The research shows that fluids moving upwards from the sub-ducting Pacific plate to the crust triggered the Iwaki earthquake. The Pacific plate is moving beneath northeast Japan, which increases the temperature and pressure of the minerals in it. This leads to the removal of water from mineralsgenerating fluids that are less dense than the surrounding rock. These fluids move up to the upper crust and may alter seismic faults.

But this tremor occurred about 160 km from the site, and a much closer one could occur in the future at Fukushima.

Scientists say they can't predict when an earthquake in Fukushima Daiichi will occur, but state that the ascending fluids observed in the area indicate that such an event is likely to occur in the near future. (ANI)