Damage protection at US nuclear plant

A bank of dams from the Missouri River flooded into the US Nebraska nuclear plant that collapsed yesterday, but officials said they were still in control of the situation and nothing was in danger.

Fort Calhoun nuclear plant has been shut down since April to refuel, and currently the water has not flooded the plant, the US Nuclear Control Commission (NRC) said. This river is not expected to raise the water level too much that the plant can control. NRC spokesman Victor Dricks said the factory was still safe.

Fort Calhoun nuclear plant is surrounded by Missouri River water. (Photo: AP).

According to the AP , the committee sent investigators to look at the factory site 32 km away from Omaha, when the 600 m long dike collapsed at 1:30 am. Water rushed into the surrounding area and the surrounding houses.

The Omaha Public Energy Agency said the entire plant site would not be operational again until the floodwaters receded. An inspection team will determine if the dyke can be repaired.

The collapsed protection dike does not affect the cooling of the reactor or used fuel tank, but electricity is cut due to overflowing into the main transformer, the NRC announced. The factory is currently powered by a generator until the power is restored today.

Floods are threatening along the Missouri River by rising water after high-lying reservoirs are discharged. Experts estimate the river will be flooded until August because of the high rainfall from the highlands and the snow blocks in the mountains melting into the river basin.