Radiation Leaks After Third Japanese Blast .....

Breaking News
3:06am UK, Tuesday March 15, 2011

A third explosion has been heard at a quake-stricken Japanese nuclear power plant, raising fears of a nuclear meltdown.

The blast tore through the unit 2 structure at the Fukushima Daiichi complex and a hole has been found in the container.

Japanese cabinet secretary Yukio Edano has told a press conference there is also currently a fire in unit 4 reactor.

Prime minister Naoto Kan said radiation has spread from the reactors and that anyone living less than 20km away from the facility should leave the area.

He said that those within the 20 to 30km radius should stay inside as the risk of a nuclear leak is rising.

Mr Edano said efforts are being made to cool down all of the reactors using water injection but that radiation levels could affect people's health.

The second explosion at the Fukushima plant

Two previous explosions occurred in buildings housing unit 1 and 3 reactors following last Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami.

At an earlier news conference plant operators said all non-essential workers were being evacuated from the damaged facility as others continue to struggle with faulty coolant systems in the three reactors.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company says radiation levels around the plant have risen four-fold.

Higher radiation levels have also been recorded in Ibaraki prefecture, north of Tokyo, Kyodo News reported, but the safety agency has said the level does not pose health risks..... Read more...