Stronger radioactivity at Fukushima Daiichi well

The operator of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has detected a higher level of radioactivity, including from strontium, at a new observation well closer to the sea. Tokyo Electric Power Company says it will further investigate possible leaks of contaminated water into the ocean. TEPCO said it determined on Friday that the level of beta radiation in water at a newly dug observation well was more than twice the level at an older one, according to (NHK WORLD) website. The higher level was 3,000 Becquerel per liter. Beta radiation is emitted by strontium and other radioactive nuclei. The new well was dug at a point close to the sea after TEPCO found that radioactive tritium and strontium were higher than government-set levels at the older well near a reactor building. TEPCO says it's hard to know the reason at the moment, but the level of radioactivity in the sea has not greatly changed. It adds it is also unknown whether anything has leaked into the sea. The operator says it will set up more observation wells to analyze the groundwater in the Fukushima Daiichi plant site. It is also planning to solidify the ground for seawalls to avoid leakage.