Japan PM Naoto Kan calls for evacuation around reactor

Japan's PM has called for the evacuation of a 20km (12 mile) zone around a quake-stricken nuclear plant that was hit by a third explosion in four days, amid fears of a meltdown.

The blast occurred at reactor 2 at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which engineers had been trying to stabilise after two other reactors exploded.

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan warned: "Radiation has spread from these reactors and the reading of the level seems very high, and there is still a very high risk of further radioactive material coming out."