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.

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Japan Latest: Explosion at a Third Fukushima Reactor

Earlier LiveBlog: Another Explosion at the Nuclear Plant

2200 GMT: There is another fire tonight at the Fukushima No. 4 reactor complex.

1342 GMT: Reuters has an ominous report: "French nuclear agency says Fukushima nuclear accident is level 6 on INES scale." To put things in perspective, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster was rated a 7 on the same scale. Kyodo news is reporting that the radiation is now too high for normal work in the control room for nuclear reactor number 4.

There was an aftershock, measuring 6.0, just moments ago, though no tsunami warning has been issued.

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Japan Latest: Tension over the Nuclear Plants

For earlier news of the earthquake, tsunami, and problems at nuclear plants, see Japan LiveBlog: An 8.4 Earthquake and Tsunami Warning.

1120 GMT: In a televised statement, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Japan is experiencing its greatest hardships since World War II.

Kan warned of sweeping power cuts to come and said the situation at the Fukushima nuclear plant is still grave.

The official toll is now 1217 dead, 1086 missing, and 1741 injured.

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Japan LiveBlog: An 8.4 Earthquake and Tsunami Warning

We are in the second day of our LiveBlog coverage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japa. EA is also providing live coverage via Al Jazeera English. There is also on-line access to Japan's NHK World, in English.

Photo: Reuters

2145 GMT: A nuclear safety official says 160 people have tested positive for elevated radiation levels.

2125 GMT: The lights have been turned off at some of Japan's landmark buildings, including the Tokyo Tower, Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka, Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo, and Bay Bridge in Yokohama, to help save electricity after the loss of the Fukushima nuclear plant.

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