Uranium Rods 'Highly Likely' Melting At Japanese Nuclear Plant, Official Says

Official: Rods likely melting at Japan plant

Water drop at one reactor twice left uranium fuel rods exposed, increasing risk of the spread of radiation and potential for a meltdown

SOMA, Japan — Water levels dropped precipitously Monday inside one stricken Japanese nuclear reactor, officials said, and the fuel rods inside three reactors at the complex appeared to be melting.

The water drop twice left the uranium fuel rods completely exposed, increasing the risk of the spread of radiation and the potential for a meltdown, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said.

Water levels were restored after the first decrease, but the rods remained exposed late Monday night after the second episode at Unit 2 of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant.

A senior government official said the nuclear fuel rods appeared to be melting inside three reactors at the complex.

"Although we cannot directly check it, it's highly likely happening," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said.
Some experts would consider that a partial meltdown of the reactor. Others, though, reserve that term for times when nuclear fuel melts through a reactor's innermost chamber but not through the outer containment shell.

The cabinet secretary's comments followed a hydrogen explosion at the complex Monday, the second one in three days, injuring 11 workers.

The blast was felt 25 miles away, but the plant's operator said radiation levels at the reactor were still within legal limits.

The morning blast occurred in Unit 3, which authorities have been trying to cool with sea water.

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