A fire is now burning at a fourth reactor Japan's quake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, with Prime Minister Naoto Kan warning a meltdown is likely.
Mr Kan says radiation levels have risen considerably, and has told people within 30 kilometres of the plant to stay indoors.
Authorities are also telling everyone within a 20-kilometre radius of the plant to leave, with a new warning for people within 10 kilometres of the nearby Fukushima Daini plant to do the same.
Mr Kan's announcement on national television followed a fresh explosion on Tuesday at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which damaged the roof above the third reactor to suffer problems there.
Radio New Zealand : News : World : Nuclear plant on fire
Mr Kan says radiation levels have risen considerably, and has told people within 30 kilometres of the plant to stay indoors.
Authorities are also telling everyone within a 20-kilometre radius of the plant to leave, with a new warning for people within 10 kilometres of the nearby Fukushima Daini plant to do the same.
Mr Kan's announcement on national television followed a fresh explosion on Tuesday at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which damaged the roof above the third reactor to suffer problems there.
Radio New Zealand : News : World : Nuclear plant on fire