Radiation normal, situation under control at Fukushima: IAEA

Vienna: Allaying fears of a nuclear meltdown, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that radiation levels at the quake-damaged Fukushima nuclear park in Japan, hit by a second hydrogen explosion, are "normal."

"Radiation dose rate measurements observed at four locations around the plant's perimeter over a 16-hour period on March 13 were all normal," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement.

The explosion which shook the Fukushima nuclear power plant today failed to breach the reactor container, the UN nuclear watchdog body said, and there was no major rise in radiation.

The blast was caused by a build-up of hydrogen in the building around the No 3 reactor at the Fukushima No 1 plant, said chief government spokesman, and cabinet secretary, Yukio Edano, said.

A similar explosion hit the building containing the No 1 reactor at the plant on Saturday.

Japan's nuclear troubles began a day after a devastating earthquake and a tsunami struck a large patch of the country's north-east. The Fukishima Prefecture lies north of the country's capital Tokyo.