Tokyo - Radiation released by the damaged reactors at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has been high enough to be a threat to human health, said the Japanese government on Tuesday.
An explosion was heard early Tuesday morning at the No. 2 reactor of the crippled plant and a fire has been reported at the No. 4 reactor, causing more radiation near the complex.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan warned that further leaks are possible and told people living within a radius of 30km of the troubled plant to stay indoors.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has deployed a seven-member expert team to Japan to assist the disaster-stricken nation with its relief efforts, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.
All of the seven experts are "highly experienced staff, experienced in the coordination of disaster management and the coordination of international search and rescue," said OCHA spokesperson Elizabeth Byrs.
Their mission is to support the Japanese effort in coordinating all the international search and rescue teams currently deployed in the country.
The OCHA spokesperson said specialised UN agencies, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organisation are in close contact with the Japanese authorities. All UN specialised staff were on stand-by and closely monitoring the situation, she added.
