Quote Originally Posted by RPGWiZaRD View Post
Any1 got any ideas how long it'll really take to get the reactors/core cooled down assuming no other issues turns up?
I have limited knowledge of the internal workings of the reactors at the site, but in general, stopping a sustained reaction can take weeks to effectively cool.

They are pumping sea water into the cooling system, hopefully indirectly. The sea water then goes into the containment vessel, mixed with boron (to retard and slow the process further). The sea water then splits into its base elements, and is exhausted into the surrounding air. This is the source of the two hydrogen explosions. If the rods are exposed, its possible they are venting large amounts of radiation. If they are not exposed, or the sea water is not being directly used to cool the reactor, the radiation would dissipate fast and pose little risk to people in the area.

For one reason or another, this episode reminds me of Union Carbide's plant at Bhopal India. There should have been more redundant backup systems online and able to resolve the problem. Hopefully, and perhaps unfortunately, they were disabled by the earthquake and not by human stupidity and greed.