"An explosion at a nuclear power plant in northern Japan on Saturday blew the roof off one building, brought down walls and caused a radiation leak of unspecified proportions, Japanese officials said, after Friday’s huge earthquake caused critical failures in the plant’s cooling system. "

Matthew L. Wald reports for the New York Times March 12, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"Authorities Presume Meltdowns Underway at Fukushima Plant" (Washington Post)

"Japan Evacuates Thousands From Vicinity of Two Nuclear Power Plants" (Washington Post)

"Nuclear power industry watches warily as Japan's aging reactor is hit hard" (Washington Post)

"How the Nuclear Emergency Unfolded" (Washington Post)

"Japan Floods Nuclear Reactor Crippled by Quake in Effort to Avert Meltdown" (New York Times)

Six Reactor Units Now Failed at Fukushima Plant (Los Angeles Times)

"Quake-Hit Japan Nuclear Plant Faces Fresh Threat" (Reuters)

 "For Battered Japan, a New Threat: Nuclear Meltdown" (AP)

Source: NY Times, 03/12/2011