TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Japan started releasing the first batch of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plant's operator, said the water discharge commenced at around 1:00 p.m. local time (0400 GMT), while concerns and opposition persisting among local fishermen, and in neighboring countries and Pacific island countries.
According to TEPCO, the radioactive wastewater has been diluted as planned before being discharged via an underwater tunnel one km from the plant.
TEPCO said it plans to carry out the first round of release over 17 days to discharge 7,800 tons of the radioactive wastewater.
In the current fiscal year through next March, a total of 31,200 tons are slated for discharge, equivalent to the storage capacity of 30 tanks, TEPCO added. ■
