UPDATE 2035 Hrs: TEPCO Officials have stated that radiation levels very briefly spiked to 8217 microsieverts/hr outside of reactor #2 after the latest explosion (see Kyodo News Report).
This is roughly 8 times more radiation in an hour than a person might expect to be exposed to in one year.
While those levels have come down considerably, TEPCO cannot discount the possibility that the fuel rods may be damaged or melting.
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Details are very sketchy at this time, but it appears that another explosion may have struck reactor #2 at the Fukushima nuclear facility at 0614 local time.
Due to a moderate spike in radiation readings at the plant and a drop in pressure in the suppression pool there is media speculation that there may have been some damage to the containment vessel.
TEPCO officials state they are continuing to inject coolant into the reactor, but some operators have been ordered to evacuate from the facility. Beyond that, TEPCO officials – even when pressed by reporters – had very little in the way of specifics to relay.
Live streaming TV coverage is available from NHK World News.
NHK’s coverage is also available on USTREAM.
