Breaking: Smoke Seen Billowing From Reactor 3

Breaking: Smoke Seen Billowing From Reactor 3 At Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant

Govt Chief Spokesman says plant workers evacuated earlier as radiation levels rose...

[More on Chief Cabinet Secretary Spokesman Yukio Edano's press conference, which just completed, momentarily...]

It's difficult to tell where the smoke is emanating from, and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) seems to be giving conflicting information, as to whether it's coming from Fukushima's Daiichi reactor Unit 3 or 4.

Earlier today, there were reports of a fire at Unit 4, which had been off-line for maintenance prior to the earthquake and tsunami on Friday. Spent fuel rods are currently being stored at the No. 4 reactor which also caught fire yesterday and then, reportedly self-extinguished shortly thereafter. The fire there earlier today was also reported to have gone out by itself about 30 minutes after it flared up, as radiation levels were too high to allow fire fighters access to the facility.

The smoke seen streaming above, from NHK's live streaming video, is being shot from NHK's helicopter 30km's away. Last night, as we covered it live here, Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan asked for calm while expanding the evacuation zone around Fukushima to 20km, and asked those inside the 20 and 30km zone to stay indoors and close all doors and windows.

He said that the radiation levels had risen along with yesterday's fire at Unit 4 to levels that were dangerous to human health. Later, Japan's chief spokesperson Yukio Edano had said the radiation level had dropped, but that Units 5 and 6 (which had also been offline for maintenance) were also beginning to warm up.

Conflicting reports continue as to whether the smoke seen above is coming from Unit 3 or Unit 4. Unit 3 was the first to see a hydrogen explosion on Saturday after its emergency cooling systme had failed, but was said to have been under control after sea water was pumped into the reactor.

The 800 man crew was evacuated last night, leaving just 50 behind to manage the crisis at four, and now possibly all six, reactors at the Daiichi facility.

ENDS

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