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4A – Daily News – Tuesday, March 15, 2011 WORLD BRIEFING Exposed fuel rods raise threat of meltdown SOMA, Japan (AP) — Water levels dropped pre- cipitously Monday inside a Japanese nuclear reac- tor, twice leaving the ura- nium fuel rods completely exposed and raising the threat of a meltdown, hours after a hydrogen explosion tore through the building housing a differ- ent reactor. Water levels were restored after the first decrease, but the rods remained partially exposed late Monday night, increasing the risk of the spread of radiation and the potential for an eventual meltdown. The cascading troubles in the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant compounded the immense challenges faced by the Tokyo government, already struggling to send relief to hundreds of thou- sands of people along the country's quake- and tsunami-ravaged coast where at least 10,000 peo- ple are believed to have died. Later, a top Japanese official said the fuel rods in all three of the most troubled nuclear reactors appeared to be melting. Of all these troubles, the drop in water levels at Unit 2 had officials the most worried. Hundreds of bodies wash ashore TAGAJO, Japan (AP) — There are just too many bodies. Hundreds of dead have washed ashore on Japan's devastated northeast coast since last week's earthquake and tsunami. Others were dug out of the debris Monday by firefighters using pick- axes and chain saws. Funeral homes and crematoriums are over- whelmed, and officials have run out of body bags and coffins. Compounding the dis- aster, water levels dropped precipitously inside a Japanese nuclear reactor, twice leaving the uranium fuel rods com- pletely exposed and rais- ing the threat of a melt- down, hours after a hydrogen explosion tore through the building housing a different reac- tor. On the economic front, Japan's stock market plunged over the likeli- hood of huge losses by Japanese industries including big names such as Toyota and Honda. While the official death toll rose to nearly 1,900, the discovery of the washed-up bodies and other reports of deaths suggest the true number is much higher. In Miyagi, the police chief has esti- mated 10,000 deaths in his province alone. Swiss, Germans suspend atomic plans PARIS (AP) — Switzerland freezes plans to build new nuclear plants, Germany raises questions about its nuclear future, and oppo- sition to atomic reactor construction mounts from Turkey to South Africa. Will explosions and other worries at a tsuna- mi-stricken Japanese nuclear plant halt what has come to be known as the nuclear renaissance? Fears about nuclear safety that took a genera- tion to overcome after the accidents at Chernobyl and Three-Mile Island are resurfacing around the globe. They are casting new doubt on a contro- versial energy source that has seen a resurgence in recent years, amid wor- ries over volatile oil prices and global warm- ing. "Europe has to wake up from its Sleeping Beauty slumber" about nuclear safety, Austria's Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich Herb Shop • VITAMINS • MINERALS • HERBS Open Tuesday-Friday 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Suite #E, Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530) 528-2930 333 So. Main St. told reporters in Brussels. He suggested an EU-wide stress test for nuclear plants, much like Euro- pean banks have been tested for their ability to cope with financial shocks. Yet some experts and officials say those fears Crafter’s Boutique Mon.-Fri. 11-5 • Sat 11-3 First Friday Night of every month is Womens Night Out Open: 11am - 8 pm 650 Main St., Red Bluff 530 519-4174 Gifts for family & friends Plenty of parking on Pine Street are overblown, given the exceptional nature of Japan's earthquake and ensuing tsunami. The Japanese blasts may slow the push for more nuclear plants, but appear unlike- ly to stop it, given the world's fast-growing energy needs. Alan Wylie Inspector 4950 Mountain Lakes Blvd #B Redding, CA 96003 Mobile: 530/638-1015 TERMITE INSPECTION FREE & SERVICE* or UP TO 15% OFF TERMITE TREATMENT PEST EVALUATION FREE & SAVE 10% OFF PEST CONTROL SERVICE* CORNERSTONE C O M M U N I T Y B A N K “As Local As You” Is your checking account free? Ours is “Better than Free”! • Free Standard Bank Logo checks • Free ATM/Debit cards • Free online banking • No monthly fees • No minimum balance requirements • Open with as little as $1 Open your “Better than Free” account today and ask me about our specials. CALL TODAY (530) 529-1222 www.ccbca.com 237 South Main Street Red Bluff CA Alissa Bell New Account Specialist Next to Tractor Supply MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER Chris’