The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has released footage that shows a retrieval device grabbing nuclear fuel debris in the containment vessel of the No.2 reactor.
On Monday, Tokyo Electric Power Company resumed its trial to remove nuclear fuel debris from the reactor.
The trial began in September, but it was suspended for about one and a half months due to a problem with cameras attached to the retrieval device.
TEPCO says a grabbing tool from the tip of the retrieval device scooped up some of the rubble, estimated to be about five millimeters, on Wednesday.
The footage shows the grabbing tool shown on a screen approaching the blackish debris with pits and projections on its surface. The tool is shown grasping a small lump of debris and holding it up carefully.
TEPCO says the tip of the device was put back into a pipe leading to the outside on Thursday.
The utility says it will remove the retrieval device out of the containment vessel on Friday at the earliest, and plans to measure the radiation level of the collected sample debris to confirm the radiation reading is below a certain level. The sample will be then put in a dedicated container and transported to an analyzing facility.
Removing nuclear debris is considered the most challenging step in decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
If the current attempt succeeds, it will be the first time debris has been retrieved at the plant since the 2011 meltdowns.