'Meltdowns in Japan's quake-hit plant'

Japanese medics drive through Fukushima on March 13, 2011 following the massive earthquake and tsunami.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/169635.html

Meltdowns have reportedly occurred in two of Japan's nuclear reactors while a risk of another explosion is reported at Japan's quake-hit Fukushima nuclear power.

The Japanese government made the announcement on Sunday as the cooling system of one more reactor has reportedly failed.

Reports say the plant's operator issued the warning after reactor number six lost its cooling function.

The operator now states that the radiation level at the site has surpassed the legal limit.

Meanwhile, thousands of Japanese have been evacuated from the area after Saturday's explosion at the earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant.

The powerful blast hit the nuclear power plant following Friday's catastrophic 9-magnitude earthquake in the country.

The emergency cooling system at the No. 3 reactor at the Fukushima nuclear plant stopped functioning on Sunday, requiring engineers to pump water to cool the plant's reactor in an attempt to avoid a meltdown at the site, Reuters reported.

Experts say that a large number of people in affected areas would suffer from acute radiation syndrome and there would be a rise in specific types of cancers and stillbirths if a full meltdown occurred.

Experts earlier expressed concerns that the damage could lead to a core meltdown and release of radioactive steam.

The government has declared a state of nuclear emergency, shutting down several atomic reactors in the quake-affected areas.