The situation at Japan's damaged nuclear power plant is still serious but does not appear to be deteriorating, the United Nations nuclear agency has said, after emergency workers took drastic action to avert a meltdown. Graham Andrew, a senior official at the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Thursday that the number 4 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which authorities have tried to pour water on, was a "major safety concern".

Emergency workers in Japan have been using unconventional methods to bring the quake and tsunami-hit reactors in the country's northeast under control amid fears of a nuclear meltdown. Military helicopters, trucks, water cannon and fire engines were used to pour tonnes of seawater on the reactors but the methods did not appear to have any immediate effect.

Published Date : Friday, 18/3/2011 3:35 PM IST