Workers' error leads to radioactive water spill at Fukushima plant

TOKYO, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Contaminated water leaked at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan after workers mistakenly detached a pipe Wednesday, operators said.

Six workers were sprayed with the contaminated water and were being checked for radiation exposure, the Japan Broadcasting Corp. reported.

The plant's operator, the Tokyo Electric Power Co., said the workers detached the pipe from a joint near a desalination device.

About 7 tons (about 17,000 gallons) of highly radioactive contaminated water leaked during a period of about 50 minutes.

The water is now contained inside a barrier that surrounds the device, Tepco said.