Concrete to be laid on Pacific seabed near Japan's damaged nuclear power plant An area of 786,000 sq ft at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean just in front of the nuclear power plant, in northeast Japan, will be covered with a thick layer of clay-cement compound. The move to lay down concrete across a space, which is the equivalent of 10 football pitches, is designed to prevent radiation contamination spreading further into the ocean. The seafloor cover will also measure just under two feet in depth, to ensure it does not degenerate into the sea, according to Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), the operators of the plant. Confirming the new plans for a seabed cover, a spokesman for Tepco told AFP: "This is meant to prevent further contamination of the ocean... as sample tests have shown a relatively high concentration of radioactive substances in the sea soil in the bay." The nuclear power plant was badly damaged during the earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan on March 11 last year, resulting in a series of explosions and partial meltdown after the reactors" crucial cooling systems were knocked out. Following the disaster, contaminated water from the plant leaked into the sea, with radioactive particles believed to have become concentrated on the seabed, prompting fears of ocean currents causing the contamination to spread. Operators of the plant reported a state of cold shutdown in December, however, engineers are continuing to work to ensure that the damaged reactors are stable enough for dismantling work to begin.