The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it has achieved one of its targets of containing the flow of contaminated water.
It says the daily water volume is now less than one-sixth of the peak period.

Contaminated water has been accumulating at the plant since it suffered a triple meltdown following a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

The water used to cool molten nuclear fuel mixes with rain and groundwater that flows into damaged reactor buildings, creating the contaminated water.

The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, says the average daily accumulation was about 80 tons in fiscal 2023 that ended March this year.

The highest daily figure was 490 tons recorded in fiscal 2015.

The utility says the reduction is due to better control of the influx of rain and groundwater by covering the ground surface around the buildings with concrete.

TEPCO admits annual rainfall last year was lower than average, but it estimates that the daily accumulation will not exceed 90 tons, even if the facility has a typical amount of precipitation.

The government and TEPCO say they have accomplished one of the set targets in the decommissioning timetable, which is keeping the daily amount of contaminated water to less than 100 tons by 2025.

However, there is no prospect in sight for stopping the water altogether.

TEPCO says it plans to install large covers over the buildings in an effort to further reduce the daily amount the water to 70 tons or lower by April 2029.