Afternoon Update

From NEI’s Japan earthquake launch page:

UPDATE AS OF 1:30 P.M. EDT, MARCH 26

The first of two U.S. Navy barges with fresh water is scheduled to arrive today at an area off the coast of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. Together, the barges will provide a total of 500,000 gallons of fresh water to help with cooling at the storm-damaged reactor. The barges have been cleaned of fuel in order to transport fresh water.

“[The two barges] can hold up to approximately 300,000 gallons of fresh water each,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Weatherford, operations officer to Command Fleet Activities Yososuka. However, “the maximum capacity is reduced to make the barges seaworthy for ocean travel.”

Tokyo Electric Power Co. reported on Saturday that lights were turned on in the main control room of reactor 2.

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