Meltdown threat rises at Japanese nuclear plant

Meltdown threat rises at Japanese nuclear plant

ERIC TALMADGE

MARI YAMAGUCHI

Associated Press

SOMA, Japan — Water levels dropped precipitously Monday inside a Japanese nuclear reactor, twice leaving the uranium fuel rods completely exposed and raising the threat of a meltdown, hours after a hydrogen explosion tore through the building housing a different reactor.

Water levels were restored after the first decrease, but the rods remained partially exposed late Monday night, increasing the risk of the spread of radiation and the potential for an eventual meltdown.

The cascading troubles in the F...