The Tokyo Electric Power Co. on May 5 announced that radioactive cesium-137 of 87 000 Bq per a kilogram of earth was detected at the bottom of the waters off the area near Reactor No. 1 of the plant.

This is about 38,000 times that at the time of ordinary survey, it said. Besides, radioactive iodine-131 and radioactive cesium-134 were detected as each 52,000 Bq and 90,000 Bq per a kilogram of earth in the seabed.

It has already been confirmed that a large amount of radioactive substances are still leaking into atmosphere, according to the survey of the Cabinet Office in late April.

The work to tide over the crisis of the power plant is going through more hardship with the measurement of high level of radioactive substances in atmosphere and soil.

The work for removing contaminated water was done for several days but its amount did not decrease. There still remains 70,000 tons of contaminated water in the basements of turbine buildings at Reactors Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

The water in the basement at Reactor No. 4 rose 25cm high in two weeks by April 26, reaching 1.15m and the concentration level of radioactive substances including cesium-137 has already reached the high level defined by TEPCO.

The remains of power plant buildings scattered by hydrogen explosion also lay obstacle to the rescuing operation. It is reported that if one works for 5-6 hours in this situation, he will lose his life as the remains were contaminated by high level of radiation.

In connection with the serious situation Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that full measures have not been taken, admitting that TEPCO and his government did not perfectly cope with the accident at the power plant.

The IAEA in a communique expressed the view that the situation of the power plant is still very serious.