후쿠시마 원전 지면 포장 41곳 균열...불안감 확산

Dozens of cracks have been discovered in facilities built to contain radiation at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant.
While the Japanese government insists it's safe,... problems are continuing to sprout up in the area,... leaving many concerned about the ongoing threat of contamination.
Lee Seung-jae has more.
This is the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant that suffered an explosion during the massive earthquake on March 11th, 2011.
After the devastation caused at the plant,.. officials decided to contain any possible radiation leaks using slabs of mortar.
However,... a recent report by the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Shimbun revealed Sunday,... that 41 cracks have been found in the plant's concrete floor.
It says the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, appears to have neglected the facilities, with inspectors discovering weeds growing through the concrete,... clearly indicating the cracks have been around for a while.
While underground reactors continue to feed water to cool dissolved nuclear fuel,... rainwater which has been seeping through the cracks is increasing the amount of contaminated water.
Inspectors have raised the issue with TEPCO, requesting maintenance work,... but the Japanese government has constantly insisted there are no issues.
Following a massive typhoon that struck Fukushima last month,... bags containing radioactive waste were found floating in a nearby river.
Despite what the Japanese government might say,... environmentalists say it's becoming increasingly more difficult not to be concerned about such a serious situation.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.