Third explosion occurs in a nuclear power plant in Tokyo. A third explosion was heard on Tuesday at a quake-stricken Japanese nuclear power plant and staff around the affected reactor have been ordered to leave the site, Tokyo Electric Power Co officials said. The authorities at the Fukushima Daiichi complex, damaged in Friday s massive earthquake and tsunami, are trying to prevent meltdowns in all three of the plant s nuclear reactors. Twice before, there have been explosions which have ripped off some roofing from the plant, but these had not damaged the reactor vessels, authorities have said. There was no immediate word on any damage from this third blast. Authorities are trying to prevent meltdowns in all three of the plant s nuclear reactors by flooding the chambers with sea water to cool them down. Japan has asked the United States for more equipment to help cool the reactors, after a dangerous drop in cooling water levels that exposed fuel rods in the No. 2 reactor, where Tuesday s blast took place. The full extent of the destruction wreaked by Friday s massive quake and tsunami that followed it was still becoming clear, as rescuers combed through the region north of Tokyo where officials say at least 10,000 people were killed.
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