The structure of what will soon be one of the largest nuclear plants in the world slowly takes shape on the southeast coast of China, just at the threshold of Hong Kong. Three other nearby facilities are already operating or are under construction. Like the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, they are located a few hundred kilometers of tectonic fault type can cause major earthquakes generate tsunamis.
Known as subduction zones, such failures occur when one tectonic plate beneath another is introduced. And as the failure known as the Philippine Trench has been the source of a major earthquake in at least 440 years, some experts say tensions are mounting tremendous, increasing the chances of a major break.
That occur, the four plants in southern China, and a fifth located at the southern tip of Taiwan, could be on the road like a tidal wave that hit the Fukushima. "We have to assume will be hit," said David Yuen, a professor at the University of Minnesota who has performed seismic probability models for the fault.
"It may not happen in the next 10 years, but in 50 or 100 years." Asia, the most active seismic region in the world is experiencing a renaissance of nuclear energy at times struggling to provide enough electricity to their huge populations and growing economies. But China, Taiwan, India and other countries building on the shores frantically facilities have used some new scientific data to determine if those areas are safe.
At least 32 plants in operation or under construction in Asia are at risk of being hit by a tsunami ever. "Many of us are quite surprised that so little priority is given to the work we do," said Kerry Sieh, Observatoire de Earth, in Singapore, who has studied and written about the Philippine Trench, where it has accumulated over millions of years.The pressure is among those who say that only a matter of time before the tension releases. 
Known as subduction zones, such failures occur when one tectonic plate beneath another is introduced. And as the failure known as the Philippine Trench has been the source of a major earthquake in at least 440 years, some experts say tensions are mounting tremendous, increasing the chances of a major break.
That occur, the four plants in southern China, and a fifth located at the southern tip of Taiwan, could be on the road like a tidal wave that hit the Fukushima. "We have to assume will be hit," said David Yuen, a professor at the University of Minnesota who has performed seismic probability models for the fault.
"It may not happen in the next 10 years, but in 50 or 100 years." Asia, the most active seismic region in the world is experiencing a renaissance of nuclear energy at times struggling to provide enough electricity to their huge populations and growing economies. But China, Taiwan, India and other countries building on the shores frantically facilities have used some new scientific data to determine if those areas are safe.
At least 32 plants in operation or under construction in Asia are at risk of being hit by a tsunami ever. "Many of us are quite surprised that so little priority is given to the work we do," said Kerry Sieh, Observatoire de Earth, in Singapore, who has studied and written about the Philippine Trench, where it has accumulated over millions of years.The pressure is among those who say that only a matter of time before the tension releases.
- Asia Nuclear Reactors Face Tsunami Risk (19/04/2011)
- AP IMPACT: Asia Nuclear Reactors Face Tsunami Risk (18/04/2011)
- Asia nuclear reactors face tsunami risk (19/04/2011)
- AP IMPACT: Asia nuclear reactors face tsunami risk (18/04/2011)
- "Japan: Melting of Nuclear Plant̢۪s Fuel Rods Confirmed" and related posts (16/04/2011)
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