Third Explosion at Japanese Nuclear Plant

Latest Update A third explosion in four days has rocked an earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan, sparking fears of major radioactive leak. The explosion early Tuesday at the Fukushima plant follow similar blasts on Saturday and Monday. Japan’s Nuclear Safety Agency says the latest explosion may have damaged the reactor’s pressure-suppressing system.

Published

10 years ago

March 15, 2011

Fujiko Takahashi

Latest Update

A third explosion in four days has rocked an earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan, sparking fears of major radioactive leak. The explosion early Tuesday at the Fukushima plant follow similar blasts on Saturday and Monday.

Japan’s Nuclear Safety Agency says the latest explosion may have damaged the reactor’s pressure-suppressing system.

Workers at a nuclear plant in Japan are battling to prevent a meltdown in one of the reactors, following the massive earthquake that struck the north-east part of the country on Friday. The latest government figures figures put the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami at over 2,000 – but that’s likely to increase dramatically in the coming days.

Amateur video footage, taken in a coastal town as the tsunami hit, reveals the full power of the tsunami in horrific detail. Residents had just minutes to flee before the wall of water came ashore.

Listen to Les Carpenter speak with VOA’s Steve Herman in Koriyama about the latest developments at the Fukushima nuclear plant

The town where the video was taken, Miniami Sanriku on the coast of Miyagi prefecture, is now flattened. Authorities say 10,000 of its residents are missing.

Japan has now dispatched 100,000 troops to the area and rescue teams from the U.S, New Zealand, China and other countries have arrived.

Aid Sent and Offered to Japan

US: 8 warships off coast, 50 rescue workers, US AID sending 72 personnel and equipment
Australia: sends dogs, search, rescue teams
Afghanistan: provice of Kandahar offers $50,000 in aid
Britain, France, Germany offer personnel, equipment, emergency aid
Russia: increases energy supplies to Japan
China, South Korea, India offer aid

The Crisis Commons volunteer community has mobilized, and part of the effort is being coordinated by Japanese students at U.S. universities.

The Red Cross has opened a page on causes.com to raise money for the victims of Friday’s disaster in Japan.

Google has launched a service for people seeking to reconnect with those in the disaster area.

The State Department tweeted:
RT @TravelGov: U.S. citizens in #Japan can stay informed about current conditions in the region through #STEP: goo.gl/SdXk #tsunami

Read More:
New Explosion Heard at Japanese Nuclear Plant

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