At two reactors, a race to contain meltdowns

By Steven Mufson

Tokyo Electric Power Co. entered Day 4 of its battle against a cascade of failures at its two Fukushima nuclear complexes, using fire pumps to inject tens of thousands of gallons of seawater into two reactors to contain partial meltdowns of ultra-hot fuel rods.

Japanese officials say they believe a hydrogen explosion occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, similar to an earlier one at a different facility. TV footage shows a wide plume of white smoke shrouding the base of the entire plant.

Government spokesman Yukio Edano said that based on initial reports, the explosion did not damage the container vessel. Radiation level near the plant will go up, as happened with Saturday’s explosion. There are no initial reports of injuries. 

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