Uranium Rods At Japan Nuclear Plant Exposed

Plant operators are bracing for a third explosion at the Fukushima nuclear facility.

Nuclear fuel at Fukushima’s No. 2 reactor was fully exposed twice Monday when water levels at the facility dropped too low to submerge the facility’s uranium rods. Friday’s earthquake and tsunami knocked out power to the plant's cooling system, forcing plant operators to flood the reactors with seawater in an effort to keep temperatures low. The exposure of the rods has increased the risk of overheating and a third explosion at the plant. Blasts rocked its No. 1 and No. 3 reactors over the past three days, but so far the core reactors remain intact and a meltdown has been averted. Despite those explosions Japanese officials said radiation levels at the plant were still within legal limits.