Japan Latest: Trying to Cool the Nuclear Plant

0615 GMT: The official toll is now 5718 dead, 8913 missing, and 2285 injured.

On the nuclear front, helicopters made four passes in 20 minutes to drop 30 tons of seawater on the damaged No. 3 reactor complex at the Fukushima plant, trying to cool the overheated pool for spent fuel. Today, 11 special water cannon trucks will douse the complex.

Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, after talks with Prime Minister Naoto Kan, said he decided to take the steps despite concerns about exposing workers to radiation. "We could not delay the mission any further, therefore we decided to execute it," Kitazawa said.

The New York Times offers an overview of the status of Fukushima's six reactors.

No. 1: The outer building is damaged and it is presumed that there was a partial meltdown. Small amounts of radioactivity have been vented.

No. 2: A partial meltdown is presumed to have occurred. The containment vessel has been breached and some radioactivity has vented.

No. 3: The reactor building has been damaged, the containment vessel may have ruptured and radioactive steam may be being released.

No. 4: Spent fuel rods in a water pool may have become exposed to air, emitting radioactive gases. An explosion and fire have damaged the building.

No. 5 and No 6: The reactors are shut down and the buildings are not damaged. But there is concern that spent fuel in the building may become exposed to air.