All staff members of Fukushima-1 have been told to urgently leave the nuclear power plant due to a major rise in radiation levels.
Another fire flared up at unit 4 several hours ago. Blasts were reported earlier at generating units 1, 2 and 3. The walls and roof of unit 3 have been destroyed.
Meanwhile over 200,000 people have been evacuated from the area within 20 kilometres of the station.
Masao Hara, the Mayor of Koryama City, where part of the evacuees has been sent, says that they urgently need combustibles, potable water and food.
The Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant was damaged during the earthquake and subsequent tsunami of March 11th, with over 11,000 people dying or missing as a result.