Hey tech fam, quick heads-up! 🚨 Yesterday (Dec 23, 2025) at around 3 pm, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency spotted a tiny leak at the decommissioning site of the Fugen advanced converter reactor in Fukui Prefecture.
JAEA reports that about 20 ml of water containing tritium – a radioactive form of hydrogen – escaped from a pipe during dismantling work. But chill, no one was hurt: no inhalation exposure or water splashes to the body, and surrounding radiation monitors show safe levels.
Inside the demolition zone, tritium briefly exceeded legal safety limits, so JAEA flagged the incident to the Nuclear Regulation Authority and has now sealed the leak. 🚧
For some background, Fugen stopped operating in 2003 and has been undergoing decommissioning since 2008 as part of Japan’s nuclear fuel recycling research. This minor hiccup shows how tight safety checks need to be, even with just 20 ml at play! ⚛️
Why it matters: nuclear safety is a global priority, from Mumbai to Manila. Rigorous monitoring keeps our energy future cleaner and safer.
Reference(s):
Radioactive water leak at decommissioned nuclear reactor in Japan
cgtn.com
