Power line may restore nuke plant’s cooling

A NEARLY completed new power line could restore cooling systems in Japan’s tsunami-crippled nuclear power plant, its operator said, raising some hope of easing the crisis that has threatened a meltdown and already spawned dangerous radiation surges.

The conditions at the plant appeared to worsen, with white smoke pouring from the complex and a surge in radiation levels forcing workers to retreat for hours yesterday from their struggle to cool the overheating reactors.

There was confusion last night about the status of water pools surrounding one of the units.