Radiation Leaks After Third Japanese Blast

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

The second explosion at the Fukushima plant

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.

I think the situation is still very, very grim - we are by far not over the worst

Olli Heinonen, former deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Japan has asked the US for help to stop the American-designed reactors plunging into uncontrollable meltdown.
The latest blast occurred after cooling water dropped repeatedly in unit 2, with the nuclear fuel rods partially exposed - risking an overheat of up to a temperature of 2,200 degrees Celsius.

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