Tour shows Japan's nuclear power disaster

OKUMA, Japan, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The plant manager of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor in Japan said the reactors are stable, but risks remain high.

The plant that was hit by a huge natural one-two punch, a 9-magnitude earthquake on March 11 followed by a tsunami, was opened to members of the press for the first time since the disaster occurred, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The assembled reporters -- who toured the plant wearing Tyvec suits, gloves, boots and respirators -- saw a facility that appeared war-torn.

The wall of at least one building was blown out. Wrecked vehicles were scattered around the grounds of the facility. Abandoned offices still had personal affects in place. In one area the ground rent by the earthquake had a crack running along the ground.

"From the data at the plant that I have seen, there is no doubt that the reactors have been stabilized. (However), even saying it's stabilized doesn't mean that it is extremely safe. When working, the radiation remains high, so when it comes to working every day, there is still danger," said plant manager Masao Yoshida.

He remembers thinking, "What was that?" when he heard the first explosions at the plant on March 12.

It turned out to be the start of the worst nuclear power disaster since Chernobyl in 1986, The Daily Telegraph said.

Officials at the plant say it will take 30 years to contain the radioactive nuclear fuel. Currently, the forest surrounding the plant gives off radiation readings of 300 microsieverts per hour.

That's 300 times what is considered safe, the Journal said.