This was confirmed by Tokyo Electric Power (the operator): "A portion of the reactor's fuel rods, which create heat through a nuclear reaction, had become expo

This was confirmed by Tokyo Electric Power (the operator): "A portion of the reactor's fuel rods, which create heat through a nuclear reaction, had become exposed due to the cooling-system failure. The spokesman for Tepco said 1.5 meters of the 4.5 meter long fuel rods were exposed. It was unclear Saturday afternoon whether the water added by workers had re-covered the rods." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703555404576195700301455480.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870355540457619...