Japan to release treated Fukushima water, says it’s safe

• Seawater near Fukushima plant safe, says Tepco.
• Japan advises citizens in China to be discreet.
• China bans seafood imports from Japan.

The company operating the Fukushima nuclear plant has stated that seawater samples collected near the facility are within safe limits.

This announcement from Tepco follows the recent discharge of treated contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean from the plant, which was devastated by a tsunami in 2011.

The release of water has led to demonstrations in the area and a response from Beijing.

In response to the situation, Japan has advised its residents in China to maintain a discreet presence, including speaking softly in public, on Friday.

The Japanese consulate situated in Chinese-governed Hong Kong has also issued a notification alerting about potential protests in connection to the water discharge.

This advisory comes after approximately 100 individuals participated in a street demonstration on Thursday to express their opposition to the water release.

Despite the approval of the plan by the UN’s nuclear watchdog, Chinese officials have strongly criticized Japan’s choice to release the water, labeling it as “highly self-centered and lacking responsibility.”

Following the commencement of the water discharge, Beijing, which is the largest purchaser of seafood from Japan, enforced a prohibition on all such imports.

Moreover, there has been a surge in panic buying of sea salt due to concerns about potential contamination affecting future supplies.

The state-operated National Salt Industry Group, China’s primary salt producer, reported that it is increasing its supply efforts because residents in certain regions of the country had rushed to accumulate salt following news of the water release.

However, Tepco has affirmed that recent seawater samples collected on Thursday afternoon exhibit radioactivity levels well within the established safety thresholds.