Just now on NHK, Cabinet Sec. Edano held a press conference. Large clouds of white smoke or steam have been rising from unit 3. Edano said that some of this is steam vented from reactor while adding cooling water but some of it "very likely" from a breach in the reactor. He did not specify whether it was the inner or outer vessel. (By "outer" I include the torus that is breached in unit 2 and the other concrete structures.)
Radiation around the plant has spiked again to very high levels, in the milli-sievert levels again. The exact numbers were unclear. He did not mention that unit 3 has MOX which makes this much worse. Unit 4 has been burning again. Photos show extensive damage to the wall. Edano said that dropping water from a helicopter has been considered but it might cause more harm than good. Radiation levels are extremely high in unit 4 and it appears they cannot think of a way to extend a hose with sea water to the pool. A reporter asked if the U.S. military might help. That was my first thought: perhaps a bomb disposal robot can be employed. Edano said they are consulting with the U.S. military and other experts worldwide. - Jed
