Toyota announced that not only is it halting operations in Japan (due to the Fukushima disaster), but in the United States as well.
This is because most of the parts used in U.S. factories come from Japan, and parts production has come to a halt.
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South Korea agrees to send Boric Acid to Japan
South Korea is willing to send Japan 53 tons of Boric Acid to Japan, to help fight the nuclear disaster.
That amount of boric acid is almost all that South Korea has.
Boric acid is an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, and it’s used in nuclear power plants to control the fission rate of uranium.
TEPCO officials want to use it at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. They said they will test a one kilogram sample from Korea on Wednesday.
Airlines adjusting to Japan disaster
Airlines from around the world are adjusting to the situation in Japan.
Many airlines are shifting to airports that are further away from Tokyo.
A photographer who flew to Tokyo from London said “I’ve never been on such an empty flight. It was a (300-seat Boeing) 777 with barely 20 people on board.”
Flights out of Japan are packed. More and more foreign governments are telling their staff to leave, as well as foreign companies.
Official says Japan’s Economic situation now a matter of National Security
NHK interviewed an economic official (analyst?) who said the economic situation in Japan is now a matter of national security, as a result of the Fukushima disaster.
Some Japanese companies have announced plans to re-start operations, but that is contingent upon the ongoing situation with aftershocks, infrastructure issues and nuclear problems.
Toyota announced that its Japanese factories will remain closed for another week. Toyota will not increase production at foreign factories.
Three prefectures are asking for 33,000 temporary homes. The emergency shelters are overwhelmed.
The Bank of Japan continued to flood billions of cash into the finance and investment markets.
Electronics industry analyst are warning that if parts supply from Japan is down for a few weeks it will drastically raise prices for electronic items.
Economic losses for Japan are predicted to hit $200 billion.
Foreign Embassies Closing or Moving away from Tokyo
A number of countries are closing their embassies in Tokyo, due to fears of radiation exposure. Other countries are moving their embassy staff away from the Tokyo area. Travel bans and warnings have also been issued.
Iraq, Bahrain and Angola are closing their embassies. Austria and Panama are moving their staff.
The Japanese government is asking foreign governments to remain calm.
JSDF stops helicopter water drops, U.S. sending water trucks
Japanese Self Defense Forces stopped dropping water by helicopter because radiation levels above the plant are too high, exceeding 50 millisieverts.
The United States military said it was sending two water trucks to help spray water on the reactors from the ground.
Can Not Cool 514 Spent Fuel Rods
NHK reporting that Fukushima Daiichi officials say 514 spent fuel rods at reactor 3 overheated, and they can not cool them down. This is why they asked the JSDF to use helicopters to dump water on them.
Plant officials said they would prefer to pump sea water from the ground, but they do not have that capability, currently.
Active Rods stored with Spent Rods
NHK reporting that officials said reactor 4 active rods had been temporarily stored with spent rods, while reactor 4 underwent maintenance, before the 9.0 quake. Earlier officials admitted reactor 4 exploded.
JSDF Helicopters Dropping Water on Reactor 3
Japanese Self Defense Forces helicopters dropping water on reactor 3, Fukushima Daiichi.
Reactor 3 is the source of the white smoke that has been coming from the plant.
GE sending gas turbine generators to Fukushima
General Electric is sending gas turbine generators to help provide power to the Fukushima nuclear plants.
GE stands to lose $1 billion in sales, due to the fact that GE designed the Fukushima reactors. Three General Electric scientists resigned from their jobs, 35 years ago, because they realized the nuclear reactor design (used at Fukushima Daiichi, and at several U.S. nuke power plants) could lead to a catastrophe.
Their concern is that the rapid loss of coolant could make the containment structure fail. This is exactly what is happening now.
The situation in Japan continues to influence other governments view of nuclear power; Switzerland has put on hold the renewal of three old reactors.