Hydrogen blast occurs at No.3 reactor of Fukushima No.1 nuke plant

TOKYO. March 14. KAZINFORM Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano confirmed at a press conference Monday that a hydrogen blast occurred at the No.3 reactor of Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

According to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, the explosion, which happened at 11:01 a.m. (0201 GMT), was similar to the one that hit the No. 1 reactor at the same plant Saturday.

The safety agency, meanwhile, urged the 600 residents within a 20-km radius of the troubled plant to stay indoors to avoid exposure to possible radioactive substances.

Nippon TV reported that the blast has caused some injuries; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

See www.xinhuanet.com/english2010