Renewed fears over Japanese reactors

THERE was renewed concern at Japan’s earthquake-crippled nuclear power plant last night due to rising temperatures around the core of one of its struggling reactors.

Water was needed to cool down the reactor and plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said it needed more time before it could say if the reactors had stabilised.

Technicians working inside an evacuation zone around the plant on Japan’s north-east Pacific coast, 250km north of Tokyo, attached power cables to all six reactors and started a pump at one to cool overheating nuclear fuel rods.