Japan Tries to Cool Unstable Atomic Reactor, Thousands Evacuated

Japanese officials battling to prevent a meltdown at a nuclear power station after yesterday’s record earthquake are using seawater to try and cool a reactor and prevent damage to the chamber holding its radioactive core.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said an explosion near the No. 1 reactor at its Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power station destroyed the walls of the reactor building and injured four people. A hydrogen leak caused the blast, which didn’t damage the steel chamber, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said.