Japanese workers evacuate after smoke at reactor

Last Updated: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:09:00 +1100

Japan's nuclear safety agency says there has been no significant change in radiation levels at the Fukushima nuclear plant after smoke was seen rising from its No.3 reactor.

But workers have been temporarily evacuated from the areas near the reactor.

A nuclear safety official says the smoke is not believed to have been caused by efforts to restore power to the reactor, and it has now ceased to smoke.

Engineers are racing to fix disabled cooling systems and bring them onstream, as fire trucks spray water to help cool reactor fuel-rod pools.

Meanwhile the government is warning villagers living near the quake-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant not to drink the tapwater.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister's cabinet, Noriyuki Shikata, says every precaution is being taken to protect the area's food and water supply.

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