The Wake Up Project

Tokyo Electric Power Company has released a photograph of the No.4 reactor building at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant where fires were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday. It shows that a large portion of the building's outer wall has collapsed. The company produced the photo at a news conference on Wednesday. The photo, shot the day before from the northwestern side of the reactor, shows that a large portion of the building's outer wall has collapsed. There is an 8-meter hole on the 4th floor, and the interior is visible. Another 8-meter square hole was also confirmed on the outer wall of the building. Both appeared after an explosion early on Tuesday. An ensuing fire near the 4th floor reportedly later went out on its own. Flames were also found spewing from the building early Wednesday, but the utility company said they were no longer visible half-an-hour later. Wednesday, March 16, 2011 11:57 +0900 (JST)

Japan's top government spokesman says a partial meltdown is likely under way at second reactor affected by Friday's massive earthquake. The Associated Press TOKYO — Japan's top government spokesman says a partial meltdown is likely under way at second reactor affected by Friday's massive earthquake. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Sunday that radiation at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima briefly rose above legal limits, but it has since declined significantly. Three reactors at the plant lost their cooling functions in the aftermath of quake and tsunami because of a power outage. Some 170,000 people have been ordered to evacuate the area within 12 miles (20 kilometers) of the plant. The plant is 170 miles (270 kilometers) north of Tokyo. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. IWAKI, Japan (AP) - Cooling systems failed at another nuclear reactor on Japan's devastated coast Sunday, hours a...