The covers of reactors N2 and N4 were damaged after an explosion at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant in Japan today. There was radiation emission, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan told a press conference in Tokyo today, ITAR-TASS reports.
Residents within 30 km of Fukushima-1 were recommended to stay at home.
The nuclear power plant is at risk of meltdown. Radiation levels have exceeded the norm three-fold. A radiation level of 8,217 microsieverts per hour was registered this morning at 08.31.
The authorities of Ibaraki Prefecture said earlier that the radiation level exceeded the norm 100-fold but had been of no threat to people. The wind is blowing from Fukushima to Ibaraki.
The blast at the second reactor may have damaged the pool for pressure reduction. The pool contains 2000-4000 cubic meters of water and is used for pressure reduction and cooling.
The staff of the nuclear power plant were evacuated, except the people monitoring and controlling the systems.
Previous explosions took place at the 1st and 3rd reactors without any damage to them. There was no radiation registered, a spokesman of the Russian Emergency Ministry in the Far East said, RIA Novosti reports.
Measurements were taken at 12.00 (Khabarovsk time).
A spokesman for the Primorskaya Krayevaya Apteka drug store said that locals had started purchasing anti-radiation medications more often.
Interfax reported that the Japanese Nikkei 225 share index lost 12.4% in the second half of Tuesday after Kan’s announcement of the situation at the nuclear power plant.
Japanese authorities say that over 2,400 people died in the earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 on March 11. 1,900 were injured. 3,100 are missing.
