"This is starting to look a lot like Chernobyl"

[steve2470]

1016: The BBC's environment correspondent Roger Harrabin says he understands the blast at the nuclear plant may have been caused by a hydrogen explosion - also one of the possibilities laid out by Walt Patterson of Chatham House. "If nuclear fuel rods overheat and then come into contact with water, this produces a large amount of highly-flammable hydrogen gas which can then ignite," our correspondent says.

1011: More from Walt Patterson of Chatham House. He says the presence of the radioactive caesium in the surrounding area does not pose a huge threat to public health in the immediate aftermath of the explosion. "What would be serious is if there was an explosion or fire that lifted this stuff high in the air, meaning it could get carried over a wide area."

1009: "This is starting to look a lot like Chernobyl" Walt Patterson, an associate fellow with Chatham House, has told the BBC after seeing pictures of the explosion at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant. "The nuclear agency says that they have detected caesium and iodine outside the unit, which certainly indicates fuel melting at the very least," he says. "Once you have melting fuel coming into contact with water, that would almost certainly be the cause of the explosion."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698

[thewiseguy]

1. This was inevitable. Some people chose to not believe it and live in denial.

It was pretty apparent this evening that something bad was going to happen. With bad news after bad news coming from the plant. The rods being exposed and then burning. I am pretty certain that this was a hydrogen explosion.

Some people just refused to believe what was happening and now this disaster is a reality.

[LawnKorn]

2. We are watching one of the most densely populated regions on Earth become uninhabitable

Japan's quest for nuclear power is going to have an effect on the entire planet now. Millions of people are going to be on the move looking for a place to live in a country where living space is at a premium.

[Uben]

3. We'll take em in Texas! Lot's of room here.

Did you know if you put the entire population of earth into Texas, the population density would be no more than that of New York city.

Disclaimer: We will no longer allow Tom Delay to live here. He has been kicked out!