Nuclear events – The Watchers

Unstable uranium tailings dams in Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan pose nuclear threat to millions

Teo Blašković — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:10:06 +0000

Recent studies have exposed a critical risk in Kyrgyzstan, where unstable dams holding approximately 700 000 cubic meters (918 000 cubic yards) of uranium mine tailings threaten to unleash a large-scale nuclear disaster on the Fergana Valley, potentially displacing millions and rendering the region uninhabitable.

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Flooded uranium mines in Russia’s Kurgan Region raise radioactive contamination fears

Teo Blašković — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:47:53 +0000

Severe flooding in Russia's Kurgan region has inundated areas surrounding the Dobrovolnoye uranium deposit, leading to potential radioactive and chemical pollution in the Tobol River. This event was reported on April 17, 2024, by the investigative news outlet Agentstvo, citing local authorities and environmentalists.

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Attacks on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant put the world “dangerously close to a nuclear accident”

Teo Blašković — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:33:28 +0000

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, is at the center of escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides accusing each other of reckless behavior that risks a major nuclear incident. This contentious issue was brought before the United Nations Security Council on Monday, April 15, 2024, where concerns were raised about the potential for a catastrophic nuclear accident.

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Highly radioactive cesium detected in northeastern Fukushima, Japan

Julie Celestial — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 14:13:00 +0000

Radioactive cesium fivefold higher the permitted levels have been detected in a black rockfish found in northeastern Fukushima Prefecture in Japan, a local fishing association announced on Monday, February 22, 2021. Roughly 500 becquerels per kilogram of cesium was...

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New radiation spike detected over northern Europe

Julie Celestial — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 23:23:00 +0000

A mysterious spike in radioactivity levels has been detected over northern Europe this month. The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) said Friday, June 26, 2020, that it may be from a source in western Russia, indicating damage to a...

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Radioactive Ruthenium-106 over Europe originated from civilian nuclear activities, study finds

Julie Celestial — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 22:47:00 +0000

Researchers at the Leibniz University Hannover LUH) and the University of Münster (WWU) found out that the mysterious cloud containing radioactive Ruthenium-106, which moved across Europe in 2017, did not come from military sources, but rather originated from...

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Study traces location of major nuclear release in 2017 to southern Urals

Teo Blašković — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 06:44:00 +0000

A new study released in PNAS on July 26, 2019, confirmed that massive atmospheric release of radioactive Ruthenium 106 (106Ru) occurred in Eurasia in September 2017. "This must have been a sizeable, yet undeclared nuclear accident," study authors said....

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Radiation leak reported at Tokai facility, Ibaraki, Japan

Teo Blašković — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 13:02:00 +0000

Japanese authorities are reporting a radiation leak took place at an old nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan on January 30, 2019. This plant has not been operational since the reactor shut down automatically due to the 2011 Tohoku...

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Radioactive uranium leaks through Westinghouse nuclear fuel factory near Columbia, South Carolina

Teo Blašković — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 09:32:00 +0000

An unknown amount of radioactive substance containing uranium leaked through the floor of Westinghouse’s Bluff Road nuclear fuel factory in South Carolina's Richland County this month, contaminating the soil under the plant. The plant uses uranium to make...

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Romania’s nuclear plant disconnects reactor after glitch

Matti Kukkola — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 14:13:00 +0000

One of the reactors has been disconnected from the grid in Cernavodă nuclear power plant, Romania on March 29, 2018, due to a glitch in the electrical system. Nuclearelectrica, the operator of the plant, said the problem occurred on Unit 2 on Thursday and that...

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