Fukushima Core May Have Been Breached

The suspected leak could cause major damage to the environment.

The Japanese government widened its evacuation zone around the Fukushima nuclear plant Friday, recommending residents within 30 kilometres of the site relocate. The government had previously recommended that residents within 20 km of the plant evacuate. The heightened alert came after two plant workers suffered skin burns when they stepped in a puddle of water found to have levels of radiation 10,000 times normal, sparking fears that there has been a serious leak of radioactive material from the plant’s core. Two weeks after an earthquake and tsunami knocked the plant’s cooling systems off-line, crews are still struggling to contain radiation from the plant. Officials announced Friday that the death toll from the quake and tidal wave is expected to surpass 18,000.