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Grey smoke rising from Unit 3 of the Fukushima plant yesterday. AP Photo/Tokyo Electric Power Co

Power cables hooked up to all of Fukushima's reactors

But workers at the quake-struck nuclear power plant have more checks to carry out before they can switch the power on to the reactors’ cooling pumps.

POWER CABLES HAVE BEEN reconnected to each of the six reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, according to plant operator TEPCO.

However, further work is required before the cooling pumps can be brought back into action.

Workers have to carry out checks on all of the relevant equipment before allowing power to flow back into the pumps in all of the six units.

Restoring power to the pumps would be a significant step forward for the plant, where authorities have struggled to prevent a meltdown since power was cut during the earthquake and tsunami on Friday, 11 March.

Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) said today that workers are still pouring seawater into some of the reactors to help prevent them from overheating.

NISA also says that one of the reactors, Number 5, has been connected to external power since yesterday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that authorities will measure the marine environment near the plant for radioactivity today and tomorrow, and the results of those tests are expected by Thursday.

- Additional reporting by the AP

Read: Fukushima radiation fears: Q&A on food safety >

Engineers continue Fukushima struggles as more smoke emerges >

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    Mute Ryan'O
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    Aug 29th 2012, 8:07 PM

    That video of the twins made my day

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    Mute Dominique Lavin
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    Aug 29th 2012, 8:19 PM

    Love the twin babies :)

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    Mute plato
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    Aug 29th 2012, 10:15 PM

    “Leaked” report on water charges.. Very witty Susan :-)

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 30th 2012, 1:07 AM

    Unintentional, Plato, but now that you point it out… I think I’ll leave it ;)

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    Mute Deirdre Mac Mahon
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    Aug 29th 2012, 8:49 PM

    Love to see them rock to jack white

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Aug 29th 2012, 11:23 PM

    Thanks for the videos. Great for cheering us up on a dull rainy evening.

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 30th 2012, 1:07 AM

    You’re welcome – glad everyone enjoyed the twins one as much as I did!

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