Full-Scale Rubble Removal Begins on Unit 1 Reactor Building Top Floor

TEPCO commenced full-scale removal of approximately 1,200 tonnes of explosion-scattered rubble from the top floor of Unit 1's reactor building on June 22, 2026, following completion of a large dust-suppression and weatherproofing cover in January 2026. Work is being carried out remotely using an overhead rubble-removal crane, a 1,250-tonne crawler crane, and associated dust-monitoring and air-conditioning equipment, since radiation levels preclude human access. Clearing the rubble is a prerequisite for accessing Unit 1's spent fuel pool; TEPCO plans to begin fuel removal from the pool as early as fiscal year 2027.