United Nations: radiation is 1,600 times higher than normal at power plant

WFRV News wfrv.com

Story Created: Mar 22, 2011 at 1:50 PM CDT

(Story Updated: Mar 22, 2011 at 1:50 PM CDT)

(WFRV)-- It seems as if things couldn't get any worse for the citizens of Japan. Now, there's a new problem at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

Water in one reactor storage pool is reported to be dangerously hot.

If the water boils away, exposed fuel rods could throw more radiation into the atmosphere.

United Nations monitoring teams say radiation levels are now 1,600 times higher than normal, about 12 miles from the complex; the limit of the government's evacuation area.

But, radiation levels drop dramatically outside that zone.