'Explosion heard at Japan nuclear plant'

A view of Fukushima nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan before March 11 devastating earthquake

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/169974.html

The Japanese government says an explosion has been heard at another reactor of an earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant and issues evacuation order to local residents, local media reported.

According to Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, the explosion was heard at the Number 2 reactor of Fukushima Number 1 nuclear power plant at 6:10 a.m. local time (2110 GMT) on Tuesday.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said in a national address on the same day that there was a high risk of a further radioactive leak from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, where a blast occurred earlier at one reactor and another had caught fire.

"The level seems very high, and there is still a very high risk of more radiation coming out," Kan added.

The japanese premier further noted that everyone within 20 kilometers of the plant should remain calm and evacuate, while those within 30 kilometers should stay indoors. He said efforts to control the situation were ongoing.

Meanwhile, higher radiation levels were recorded in a region north of the Japan's capital Tokyo after a blast at Fukushima nuclear power plant, Kyodo news agency reported.

The news agency said that the increased levels were detected in Ibaraki prefecture between Tokyo and Fukushima.

Fukushima nuclear power plant is located 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of Tokyo.

Three hydrogen explosions have hit Fukushima nuclear power plant since Saturday after a massive earthquake and tsunami knocked out reactor cooling systems.