A third blast at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, which heightened fears of a leak in the reactor container, sent Japanese stock indices down 9.5-10.5% at the end of a trading day on Tuesday, their lowest since 1987, exchange data showed.
The Nikkei 225 index plummeted 10.55% to 8,605.15, its third biggest drop ever, while the broad TOPIX index slumped 9.47% to 766,73.
Fears of a nuclear disaster intensified after radiation levels around the Japanese quake-stricken power plant soared following explosions at the complex.
The government has ordered the evacuation of people living 20 kilometers around the plant and people living 30 kilometers around it are to stay indoors.
MOSCOW, March 15 (RIA Novosti)