World

Second Hydrogen Explosion Rocks Japan Nuke Plant

TOKYO (The Blaze/AP) — Japan‘s chief cabinet secretary says a hydrogen explosion has occurred at Unit 3 of Japan’s stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. The blast was similar to an earlier one at a different unit of the facility.

Yukio Edano says people within a 12-mile (20-kilometer) radius were ordered inside following Monday’s. AP journalists felt the explosion 30 miles (50 kilometers) away.

Edano says the reactor’s inner containment vessel holding nuclear rods is intact, allaying some fears of the risk to the environment and public.

The No. 3 Unit reactor had been under emergency watch for a possible explosion as pressure built up there following a hydrogen blast Saturday in the facility’s Unit 1.

More than 180,000 people have evacuated the area.

TOKYO (AP) — The operator of a Japanese nuclear power plant where a reactor’s containment building exploded says radiation levels at the unit are within legal limits.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. says radiation levels at Unit 3 of the stricken Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant were 10.65 microsieverts Monday, significantly under the 500 microsieverts at which a nuclear operator is legally bound to file a report to the government.

There was a hydrogen explosion at the unit earlier in the day.

Officials have been racing to stave off multiple reactor meltdowns after a devastating quake and tsunami incapacitated the Fukushima plant.

More than 180,000 people have evacuated the area, and up to 160 may have been exposed to radiation.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

SOMA, Japan (AP) — The second hydrogen explosion in three days rocked Japan’s stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant Monday, sending a massive column of smoke into the air and wounding six workers. It was not immediately clear how much — if any — radiation had been released.

The explosion at the plant’s Unit 3, which authorities have been frantically trying to cool following a system failure in the wake of a massive earthquake and tsunami, triggered an order for hundreds of people to stay indoors, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano.

The blast follows a similar explosion Saturday that took place at the plant’s Unit 1, which injured four workers and caused mass-evacuations.

Japan‘s nuclear safety agency said six workers were injured in Monday’s explosion but it was not immediately clear how, or whether they were exposed to radiation. They were all conscious, said the agency’s Ryohei Shomi.

Earlier, Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the reactor, said three workers were injured and seven missing.

The reactor’s inner containment vessel holding nuclear rods was intact, Edano said, allaying some fears of the risk to the environment and public. TV footage of the building housing the reactor appeared to show similar damage to Monday’s blast, with outer walls shorn off, leaving only a skeletal frame.

More than 180,000 people have evacuated the area in recent days, and up to 160 may have been exposed to radiation.

Earlier Monday, pressure had jumped inside Unit 3, forcing the evacuation of 21 workers. But they returned to work after levels appeared to ease.

Associated Press journalists felt the explosion in the tsunami-devastated port town of Soma, some 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of the reactor. They reported feeling the faint rumble a blast and the ground shaking.

At the time, sirens were wailing as rescue workers were in the midst of evacuating all those in the city to high ground due to a tsunami warning. That turned out to be a false alarm.

___

Associated Press writers Shino Yuasa, Tomoko Hosaka, Elaine Kurtenbach and Joji Sakurai in Tokyo contributed to this report.

Comments (48)

  • GEETAR
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:37pm

    Im betting on the fourth horseman theory. a lot of things have happened since then and it seems to just be getting worse.If any nation on earth can survive this its the japanese.These are very determined people and give up is not in their vocabulary. If they could recover from world war 2 they can survive anything.we could only hope the youth of our nation could be as loyal and love our country as much as their youth do.

    Report Post »  
  • Oathkeeper1775
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 4:51pm

    I too am glad the people at the Japanese power plants are NOT the wisconsin democrats that ran and hid in another state………..

    Report Post » Oathkeeper1775  
  • Akira Gomi
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:39pm

    The Japanese are out standing in sacrifice, work and loyalty and link together, like lego’s. They have a nightmare ahead of them, yet they will prevail, thier society has seen the worst and they always win, “The Way of Bushido” is in them. Imagine if these dedicated workers were raised up in Wisconsin unions? Imagine the level of deuchbaggery? I just hope to God that nothing like this happens here. With the leadership in the White House, playing his fiddle will Rome burnes (party on obammy, and don’t forget about your 2:00 tee time). Also with the level of incompetence at the state level and the dumbing down and encouraging violence among thier useful idiots. The Boy Scouts are more equiped and prepared. The feds would come down with Martail law and spend more time gathering up the Christains and Jews for fema camps and protecting the inner city thugs raping, that are stealing and murdering innocent white civilians. We canot rely on the Government in this situation, so make your plans with your family, friends and neighbors. Think clans for protection in numbers. It has been 60 years since the feds have had and type of instructions for any type to guide the population in case of disasters. Do really think the feds care aboput you and your family? There only concern is how much they can take from you before you do anything about it.

    Report Post » Akira Gomi  
  • jrcess
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:24am

    Crooked real estate deal years ago why else would you build a nuke on ocean front property with all the problems.

    Report Post »  
  • IntrepidSI
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:55am

    Anyone else having second thoughts that maybe the Horseman riding out of the crowds last month in Egypt may have been Death?

    “The world is full of troubles, and anxious in it’s sleep”

    Yeats

    Report Post » IntrepidSI  
  • USAFRetired
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:40am

    What you see in these explosions is a superheated steam pressure blast. no flames only dust. if you slow down the first one you will see the dome rise up and disintegrate. The building simply burst like a balloon with too much air inside. In the second it rises up and falls back. the weak point in this reactor was where the dome connected to the walls.

    And please call it what it is CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS: an Explosion at a Nuclear power plant! and not a Nuclear explosion.

    Report Post » USAFRetired  
  • goatkid
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 6:27am

    I’ll wager that there are more than 160 people exposed to radiation. How can anyone trust what officials have to say anymore? Especially Government officials.

    Report Post »  
  • prb65
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 4:16am

    The company I get my monthly direct from Japan shipment of Green tea is loctaed in Fukushima, just 20 miles from the compromised nuke plant. According to their webiste they are optomistic and plan to go forward with shipments ASAP citing some offbeat report downplaying the potential dangers that could still lie ahead. The customer replies I find distubing since many customers (as sign of support) pledge to continue buisness with this compay that is striken. Im all for supporting the people of Japan in their recovery, just not at my own risk. I am probbly over reacting but Im a skeptic of any reports I read and it will take a mountain of data to convince me to dip my toe into the water. I do hope they are able to overcome this.

     
  • mharry860
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 1:31am

    You have to wonder if the people operating this plant are toast. God help them as they save many more.

    Report Post » mharry860  
  • Netsurfer2
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 1:04am

    It’s so terrible to see so many families devastated from the wall of water. They prepared for what they thought would be just an earthquake and never knew how bad it could be. We as American’s need to also prepare for things like this. My heart goes out to all the children that saw these moments. My God bless the families of Japan so that they can begin to heal. I‘m sure it wasn’t the loss of everything that hurt them most, it was their loved one’s, family and neighbors.

    Japan my prayers are with you!

    Report Post » Netsurfer2  
  • NeoKong
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:56am

    Eh…..don’t look like much compared to the first explosion.

    Report Post » NeoKong  
  • Salamander
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:35am

    Uh-oh! It looks like this reactor is fueled with MOX (Mixed-oxide Fuel). This may be a problem as the daughter products of this fuel are a real brew of nasties! If there are radiation leaks from Unit 3, it won’t be as benign as with Unit 1! If they are venting steam, there will be radiation leaks. If those leaks aren’t filtered (like when the secondary containment building blew), then they are on the loose!

    Report Post »  
  • AnOregonian
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:26am

    They have a tiger by the tail yet they seem to be working this crisis out. They said earlier this type of explosion may occur again. Neither of the containment units have ruptured, and both explosions resulted from off gassing to reduce the reactors pressure.

    I think they are going to be successful shutting these down with only localized contamination.

    They are suffering enough!

    http://jibtv.com/program/fullscreen.aspx?page=0

    Report Post » AnOregonian  
    • AnOregonian
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 1:23pm

      I may have been totally incorrect in my assessments.

      This is uncharted territory now that unit #2 has lost coolant, fuel rods are fully exposed, venting valves have closed and new “coolant” can no longer be injected.

      This is getting worse by the minute.

      Report Post » AnOregonian  
  • TheRealElvis
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:15am

    For the idiots who advocate nuclear energy, I hope this is an eye opener. It has been known for decades by the smart guys that nuclear is NOT the way to go, but for some stupid reason that defies the test of ignorance the government keeps approving nuclear power plants.
    I think Charlie Sheen has a point, …….Duh, losing!
    Perhaps Japan will show us the way to cleaner more efficient and less deadly ways to harness energy. Knowing it will take more than one tragedy in the USA before our illustrious leaders will wake up. And that’s because Americans keep electing stupid and corrupt people to office.

    Report Post »  
    • JP4JOY
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:27am

      So what is your answer to the energy conundrum. Hamster wheels?

      Report Post » JP4JOY  
    • FEDupFRANK
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 2:17am

      THEREALELVIS. Is it not apparent to you that 10s of thousands were killed because the lived to close to the shore? With your kind of logic it should be illegal to live within 3 miles of shore. We are watching to much TV in this country. There is no such thing as the China syndrome. It was just a movie. http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/

      Report Post »  
    • So
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 6:52am

      Not a peep from the green police. Not a peep. When the oil rig exploded, the green police were all over it. This is a 1000 xs worse.

      So much for “clean” energy. There will be people that still tout how great nuclear energy is, but they won’t want it in their back yard!

      Report Post »  
    • heavyhand54
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 7:03am

      Keeps approving nuclear plants??? Thought it has been over 30 years since the last reactor was built

      Report Post »  
    • ZeitgeistBuster
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:11am

      http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/

      For Nuclear naysayers, start here and then find the links to Wired articles about “micro” nuclear power plants that burn “waste” nuclear material to make electricity for “local” consumption. and read who is promoting the idea… many of them are your ideological fellows you may be surprised to learn.

      The distribution of “micro” nuclear plants could get us on the road to fulfilling the vision laid out by the Rhodes Scholar (and student and ultimately debunking critic of Keynes) and alternative Economists E. F. Schumacher in his book “Small if Beautiful… Economics as if PEOPLE Mattered”.

      Report Post » ZeitgeistBuster  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:08am

      Riiiiight. Because, you know, 8.9 earthquakes are a common occurrence. Life is dangerous, we cannot stop living because there is a risk involved.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • Rumsfeld
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:09am

      right No nukes,coal OR oil right? just solar powered bikes,did you know more burning coal releases more uranium than any other source?whats powering your computer? dummy

      Report Post » Rumsfeld  
    • So
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:03am

      Where are the environmentalists now?! Not a peep.

      Why isn’t there wailing and sobbing for the environment?? Where is the moaning and gnashing of teeth? No one is saying, “No more nuclear plants!”, after this catastrophe. But there was plenty of, “No more oil rigs!”, after a much lesser event. Must be because nuclear is so very “clean”. Yeah that’s it.

      I guess the world can take it on the chin because it’s “clean” and the liberals approve.

      Report Post »  
    • Uncle Crusty
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:12am

      What do expect from a lemming called Elvis!!!! Hey Elvis has left the building in case you didn’t know peanut…as for nuclear, it has it’s drawbacks for sure, but what the heck else do we have now? wind and solar? LOL…get real jumpyjacket, you need a padded room.

      Report Post »  
    • So
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:41am

      “Uncle Crusty – …as for nuclear, it has it’s drawbacks for sure, but what the heck else do we have now? wind and solar? LOL…get real jumpyjacket, you need a padded room.”

      I bet you weren’t saying that when the oil rig exploded. Hmmm. Why is that?? The “clean” nuclear energy has much greater toll on the environment. But you are okay with that. Interesting.

      Report Post »  
  • Salamander
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:04am

    Sure makes you think a little, each time you turn on your light bulb! I used to give thanks before meals–now, I’ll give thanks before using electricity, too!

    Report Post »  
  • pattybbb1
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:01am

    we are praying for the people of Japan.

    Report Post »  
  • Salamander
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:01am

    Praise the courage of these workers, operators, managers, owners and regulators! They are doing EXACTLY what they are supposed to do–and some of them have lost their lives in the process, some have been injured and some have pushed their radiation limits! These plants are being sacrificed, ruined, to avoid meltdown! It takes courage and know-how to make these decisions! The hydrogen explosions are not as much accidental as unavoidable under the circumstances–but the effort is to keep the core covered and continuing to cool while keeping the primary containment vessel intact–at the cost of trashing the plant for good! There is no better alternative–but the visible destruction is understood, planned and part of the disaster-mitigation efforts! It isn’t pretty, but it is apparently working–we won’t know for days, weeks and months, how close or how far into meltdown each reactor came. It would have been better if there were sufficient cooling resources to not go to this level of disaster, but that isn’t the case–so they are now playing the hand they were dealt! Admire their courage! Let’s ALL learn from the mistakes (and, there certainly have been some)! And, let’s NOT become irrational about the whole subject of nuclear power!

    Report Post »  
  • chasbronson
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:01am

    There is bound to be hero stories of the commitment and supreme sacrifices of these nuclear plant workers.They have all been exposed by now to the effects at least to the capacity that their healths are going to be drastically affected.Some may have died or severly injured already.Prayer of divine intervention is all that will help them now.I think meltdown is inevitable now,Unless workers are [sacrificed] to get close enough to do anything.I pray that all would accept Jesus Christ as the way the truth and the life through this disaster.Death would then not be so bad,as Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross “Today you will be with me in paradise”.

    Report Post »  
  • EZDOZIT
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:54pm

    Add your comments

    Report Post »  
  • jzs
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:32pm

    The fact that the Japanese are lowering pressure by venting gases that they know have H2 is not a good sign. They certainly knew the risk even before the first explosion. They knew venting the same gas from this second reactor means that they are evaluating risks and and making very hard choices between bad and worse scenarios. They’re have stopped trying to save the economic value of those reactors and are now only trying to avoid the worst case scenarios.

    There’s hope though. Japan probably has the best, smartest, most experienced and knowledgeable nuclear engineers in the world. If anyone can minimize the effects of this disaster, they can.

    Report Post » jzs  
  • Gold Coin & Economic News
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:25pm

    @Psychosis search videos about this explosion. It’s about 5 times as big as the first one and blew the roof off to the tune of about 2,000 feet in the air.

    Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:15pm

    God help them now, there are still four other reactors reported to have problems as well.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Gold Coin & Economic News
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:15pm

    This was a MASSIVE explosion. Are we supposed to believe that no one is dying at this nuclear plant in these huge explosions where 4,000 people work? I don’t trust the government of Japan any more than I do the US government.

    Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:22pm

      no one claimed their werent deaths………………all the engineers and workers at the plants know the risk, but are willing to take that risk to save many more.

      not quite sure if anyone has died in these explosions, because the first one was intentional to release the pressure, and it is common knowledge hydrogen and oxygen explode when in contact in this scenario

      i am going to assume this second explosion was similar to the first one, and that there is the chance this to was an intentional venting so i would think they would have cleared the immediate area before venting

      but, who really knows, except the brave men and women who are there attempting to fix the problem

      our prayers go out to them, that they may succeed, and stay safe

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:23pm

      It‘s hard to believe that there is anyone left at these plants to even be doing anything about what’s going on there. It is very interesting that we have heard nothing from any plant spokesperson or any government spokesperson about what’s really going on.

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:34pm

      The video above is not of the explosion, only what it looked like after the 2nd explosion. Here’s the second explosion:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIZKlaEZMLY

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:38pm

      It could be just the hydrogen ignited and blew…from what I understand, the building surrounding the unit is sort of shaped like a light bulb and rather a small cavity to carry much in the way of pressure build up…they may have been releasing steam off of the unit into that “cavity” and it simply became too much to be contained in the small area….oxygen + hydrogen (as in the previous unit that blew) under extreme pressure=massive explosion…the core may not have ruptured! It is no doubt that people lost their lives…I can’t begin to imagine the commitment it would take for someone to remain in the area…God help them and they are all in my thoughts and prayers…

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Angry_Bird
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:55pm

      Since GE built these plants should they be responsible to pay for all the cleanup ? You would think they knew the risks, or are just the oil companies liable for disasters ?

      Report Post » Angry_Bird  
    • paleoconservatarian
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 1:19am

      There have been expectations that the third reactor would encounter the same difficulties as had the first – failure of the outer containment facility due to hydrogen buildup, so it’s not as if the workers on site were taken unawares. Even so, 11 people have been reported injured. They‘re in harm’s way so that the crisis doesn’t get out of hand.

      Fukushima Daiichi’s #3 reactor was built by Toshiba, not GE. Put aside the cheep satisfaction of partisan sniping; nobody who built these reactors foresaw the chain of events that have occurred; either the 9.0 magnitude earthquake or the 10 meter high tsunami wave that reportedly hit that area of the coast and swamped all the back up generators.

      Report Post » paleoconservatarian  
    • FEDupFRANK
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 2:02am

      Gold you should believe it. what blew up is the top floor of the external building. It has some space designed to hold steam build ups. The plant operators were fully aware of the build up of hydrogen. If a 747 crashed into one of these facilities it still would not release any serious radiation. All evidence indicates that the safest place near that plant was inside the plant itself when the quake and wave hit.Even if the core melts down, the radiation will stay in the containment vessel. When it cools down they will remove the whole unit and take it to a storage facility just like they do when replacing a containment vessel. When three mile island melted down no one was injured. They even allowed president Carter to visit the site during the crisis. and he is still alive and well! People need to read up on these things and heres a good place to start. http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/

      Report Post »  
    • ZeitgeistBuster
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 7:18am

      If these plants did not have water towers or a reservoir built at a higher elevation than the reactor to supply by gravity feed cool water in the event of a catastrophic loss of power, then whoever was the safety engineer for the design of these plants needs his license revoked.

      And if NOBODY in the entire industry thought of this…. they need to do some consulting with a farmer!

      This is basic. Diesel motors are a Backup system. But where is the Backup system in case your diesel motors fail? Come on! It takes nuclear scientists to OVERLOOK this one i guess.

      I bet Kim Jong (I’m so Ronrey) Illin and Ajamedinejad the Bringer of the Nuclear Sword of Allah are looking at their own Nuclear Plant designs right now.

      I hope that the Japanese government puts it’s people first and chalks up the plants as a total loss and goes ahead with sea water cooling of the reactors. At least to give them a chance to apply some power and withdraw the rods back into the lead jackets to snuff out the nuclear reactions.

      And can someone explain to me why there isn’t a system to automatically withdraw the rods without power when a catastrophic loss of power and damage is incurred? Shouldn’t that also be a damned fail safe condition?

      Report Post » ZeitgeistBuster  
    • Colonial Revolutionary
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 7:43am

      @ZeitgeistBuster
      Most plants do have a type of gravity feed as part of the ECSS (Emergency Cooling Safety System). The only problem is when you run out of water and have no electricity to pump more water into the tank you are screwed. Also the control rods are designed to always fail in the inserted position. The control rods in these Japanese units are inserted. The problem is not with supplying shutdown reactivity the problem is keeping the core cool because of the residual decay heat that is being produced. You can not just turn a reactor off like a car. It still generates heat from decay even if it is not fissioning. You must control that heat or the core melts and becomes a real nasty mess.

      Report Post » Colonial Revolutionary  
    • ZeitgeistBuster
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 7:53am

      FEDupFRANK, thanks for the link You posted.

      I read up specifically on the The plants at Fukushima, which are BWR or Boiling Water Reactors.

      I was wrong that the uranium rods were still producing a reaction. The heat is coming from secondary reactions of short lived nuclear by-products of the main reaction, namely cesium and iodine isotopes which have a short half life of a few days.

      But it seems that I was RIGHT that these plants do not have a supply of water for cooling purposes that can keep the cooling systems filled with water during the “cool down” which lasts for several days.

      from the article “When the diesel generators were gone, the reactor operators switched to emergency battery power. The batteries were designed as one of the backups to the backups, to provide power for cooling the core for 8 hours. And they did.

      Within the 8 hours, another power source had to be found and connected to the power plant. The power grid was down due to the earthquake. The diesel generators were destroyed by the tsunami. So mobile diesel generators were trucked in.

      This is where things started to go seriously wrong. The external power generators could not be connected to the power plant (the plugs did not fit). So after the batteries ran out, the residual heat could not be carried away any more.

      At this point the plant operators begin to follow emergency procedures that are in place for a “loss of cooling event”. It is again a step along the “Depth of Defense” lines. The power to the cooling systems should never have failed completely, but it did, so they “retreat” to the next line of defense. All of this, however shocking it seems to us, is part of the day-to-day training you go through as an operator, right through to managing a core meltdown.”

      I highly recommend this article to you to get a good handle on the basics. It will strip away a lot of alarm. (it did for me).

      http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/

      Report Post » ZeitgeistBuster  
    • ZeitgeistBuster
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:01am

      I stand by my insistence that a supply of water that could be supplied to the reactors by gravity is not rocket science. The heat generated by the secondary by-products is only 3% of the heat produced by the nuclear rods.

      I would probably only have taken two water towers that a normal city would have to cover the time and amount of water needed to complete cool down of the reactor chamber.

      Report Post » ZeitgeistBuster  
    • Uncle Crusty
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:47am

      you know what Blazers, we are watching the left pretty carefully, and this disaster in Japan, pray for them; however, what about this MOON that is supposed to graze the asteroid belt, why is the gov’t buying up ALL the freeze dried and canned food they can? Why are they storing the food in underground bunkers — I think the Gov’t knows a whole lot more than they are saying, in order to avoid worldwide panic??? Anyone have some info on this food stuff and moon/asteroid possibility of wrecking our planet??????

      Report Post »  
    • dawg of gawd
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:24am

      Relax, everyone, Glenn just said the nuclear rector situation in Japan is nothing to worry about. So, we’re good.

      Report Post » dawg of gawd  
    • GEETAR
      Posted on March 14, 2011 at 7:10pm

      well im watching it right now and they just broke in and said another explosion in reactor two. this is at 7;09 est. Those poor people please everyone pray for them

      Report Post »  

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