Radioactive levels in sea by nuclear plant much higher

Searches continue with 17,440 people still missing

Levels of radioactive iodine in the sea near the Fukushima nuclear plant are eight times higher than a week ago.

Although officials say the radiation will no longer be a risk after eight days, it is a cause for a concern because it is unclear where the leak is coming from.

There are areas of radioactive water in four of the reactors at the plant, and two workers are in hospital.

The plant's operator says the core of a reactor may have been damaged.

It has announced that fresh water rather than sea water will now be used to cool the damaged reactors, in the hope that this will be more effective.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the situation was "very unpredictable".

The official death toll from the 11 March earthquake and tsunami has passed 10,000, and more than 17,440 people are missing.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been made homeless; an estimated 250,000 people are living in emergency shelters. Food, water and fuel are in short supply.

The Japanese government has put the rebuilding cost at $309bn (£191.8bn).

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