Workers evacuated from Japan Fukushima nuclear plant

Almaty. March 21. Kazakhstan Today - Plant operators have evacuated workers from Japan's nuclear complex after grey smoke rose from from the spent fuel storage pool of the plant's Unit 3, Kazakhstan Today reports.

Plant operators have evacuated workers from Japan's nuclear complex after grey smoke rose from one of its reactor units, the latest of persistent troubles in stabilising the facility after it was damaged in an earthquake and tsunami, The Associated Press reported.

Smoke rising from the spent fuel storage pool of the plant's Unit 3 prompted the evacuation, Tokyo Electric Power Co spokesman Hiroshi Aizawa said.

The problem-plagued Unit 3 also alarmed plant officials over the weekend with a sudden surge of pressure in its reactor core.

Japanese officials had reported some progress over the weekend in their battle to bring the radiation-leaking Fukushima Dai-ichi plant under control after it was damaged during the massive March 11 quake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan.

But the crisis was far from over, with the discovery of more radiation-tainted vegetables and tap water adding to public fears about contaminated food and drink.

The toll of Japan's triple disaster came into clearer focus today after police estimates showed more than 18,000 people died in the quake and tsunami, and the World Bank said rebuilding may cost $237 billion.

All six of the nuclear complex's reactor units saw trouble after the disasters knocked out cooling systems.

In a small advance, the plant's operator declared Units 5 and 6 - the least troublesome - under control after their nuclear fuel storage pools cooled to safe levels.

Progress was made to reconnect two other units to the electric grid and in pumping seawater to cool another reactor and replenish it and a sixth reactor's storage pools.

But the buildup in pressure inside the vessel holding Unit 3's reactor presented some danger, forcing officials to consider venting.

The tactic produced explosions of radioactive gas during the early days of the crisis.

"Even if certain things go smoothly, there would be twists and turns," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told reporters.

"At the moment, we are not so optimistic that there will be a breakthrough."

Nationwide, official figures show the disasters killing more than 8600 people, and leaving more than 13,200 missing, but those two lists may have some overlap.

The disasters have displaced another 452,000 people who are living in shelters.

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