The Japanese authorities have given the go-ahead for the discharge into the ocean of the treated radioactive waters contained in the tanks of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, at the center of the 2011 disaster, when the Japanese island was devastated by an earthquake and a subsequent tsunami.
The release began at 6 (Italian time) on Thursday and the operation has triggered bitter protests from countries in the area.
In South Korea, more than 10 people were arrested as they tried to enter the Japanese embassy in the capital Seoul in protest against Tokyo's decision.
Harsh condemnation for the release of radioactive water was also expressed by China: the Beijing Foreign Ministry has defined Japan's move "extremely selfish and irresponsible".
(Unioneonline/(lf)
