Death toll rises as nuclear fears grow

THE estimated death toll from Japan’s disasters has climbed past 10,000 as authorities race to combat the threat of multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns and a humanitarian food and water crisis.

Nuclear plant operators are working frantically to try to keep temperatures down in several reactors crippled by the earthquake and tsunami, with their last-ditch attempts to do this by dumping sea water into the equipment to prevent meltdowns wrecking two plants.

While officials have warned of a second explosion, they said it would not pose a health threat.