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Fukushima Drones Identify Hole in Unit 3 Pressure Vessel

3/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A two-week drone mission at Fukushima Daiichi detected a hole in Unit 3’s pressure vessel and melted fuel debris for the first time since the 2011 disaster.
The 95-gram micro-drones collected visual and radiation data.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO) confirmed damaged structures.
TEPCO will use the data to plan future fuel debris removal, a process that may take decades.

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Story summary

A two-week drone mission at Fukushima Daiichi detected a hole in Unit 3’s pressure vessel and melted fuel debris for the first time since the 2011 disaster.
The 95-gram micro-drones collected visual and radiation data.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO) confirmed damaged structures.
TEPCO will use the data to plan future fuel debris removal, a process that may take decades.