Three injured, 7 missing after explosion at Japan nuclear plant

TOKYO, March 14, 2011 (AP):Japanese officials say they believe a hydrogen explosion has occurred at Japan's stricken Fukushima Daiichii nuclear plant, similar to an earlier one at a different unit in the facility.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company said that three persons have been injured and seven went missing after the explosion at the nuclear plant.

A massive column of smoke was seen belching from the plant's No. 3 unit Monday. The reactor had been under emergency watch for a possible explosion as pressure built up there following a hydrogen blast Saturday in the facility's Unit 1.

Officials have been racing stave off multiple reactor meltdowns after a devastating quake and tsunami incapacitated the Fukushima plant.

More than 180,000 people have evacuated the area, and up to 160 may have been exposed to radiation.

'Within limits'

However, the nuclear operator has said that the radiation levels at the unit that exploded are within the legal limits.
Photo Credit : A satellite image of the Fukushima Daiichii nuclear power plant in Japan. A massive column of smoke was seen belching from the plant's No. 3 unit on Monday. AP File photo