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What are the implications of the blast at Fukushima Daiichi plant?

By Elaine Lies | China Daily | Updated: 2011-03-17 08:02

Japan's nuclear crisis worsened on Wednesday, with workers ordered to withdraw briefly from the stricken power plant after radiation levels spiked, just hours after smoke was seen rising from the quake-crippled nuclear facility.

Q: What does the smoke mean?

A: The smoke is most likely to be steam, a natural byproduct of pouring water into the reactors to cool them down and keep the fuel rods covered. Authorities are also trying to maintain water levels at a spent-fuel storage pool at the plant's No 4 reactor, which experts now view as the real threat.

What are the implications of the blast at Fukushima Daiichi plant?

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