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The Times Leader timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE, PA
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2011
$1.50
DEVASTATION IN JAPAN Country reels as deaths skyrocket, blazes rage and the threat of a nuclear disaster looms
A NATION MELTS DOWN By ERIC TALMADGE and YURI KAGEYAMA The Associated Press
HOW TO HELP
IWAKI, Japan — Cooling systems failed at another nuclear reactor on Japan’s devastated coast Sunday, hours after an explosion at a nearby unit made leaking radiation, or even outright meltdown, the central threat to the country following a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. Japan’s top government spokesman says a partial meltdown likely is under way at a second reactor and that radiation at the nuclear plant briefly rose above legal limit. He said fuels rods were M O R E briefly exposed at that reac- I N S I D E tor. The Japanese govern- For more coverage ment initially said radiation on the devastation in Japan, see emanating from the plant Pages 8A, 9A, appeared to have decreased 10A after Saturday’s blast, which produced a cloud of white smoke that obscured the complex. But the danger was grave enough that officials pumped seawater into the reactor to avoid disaster and moved 170,000 people from the area. Japan’s nuclear safety agency then reported an emergency at another reactor unit, the third in the complex to have its cooling systems malfunction. To try to release pressure from the overheating reactor, authorities released steam that likely contained small amounts of radiation, the government said.
Here are some ways to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and others throughout the Pacific: AMERICAN RED CROSS — U.S. mobile phone users can text REDCROSS to 90999 to add $10 automatically to your phone bill. Or visit http://www.redcross.org or call 1-800RED-CROSS. INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS — Sending relief teams and supplies to the area. Call 1-800-4814462, or visit http:// internationalmedicalcorps.org. SAVE THE CHILDREN — The relief effort providing food, medical care and education to children is accepting donations through mobile phones by texting JAPAN to 20222 to donate $10. People can also call 1-800-728-3843 during business hours or visit www.savethechildren.org/japanquake to donate online. GLOBAL GIVING — The nonprofit that works through grassroots efforts says Americans can text JAPAN to 50555 to give $10 through their phone bill. Or visit http://www.globalgiving.org/. INTERACTION — The group is the largest alliance of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations and lists many ways to help on its site, http://www.interaction.org. NETWORK FOR GOOD — The aggregator of charities has a list of programs and ways to donate to relief efforts. Visit http://www.networkforgood.org. WORLD VISION — The Christian humanitarian organization focuses on children, aiming to lessen the emotional and psychological damage that many children suffer during crises. To donate, visit www.worldvision.org.
See NATION, Page 8A
Nightmare at a nuclear plant By MARI YAMAGUCHI and JEFF DONN Associated Press
AP PHOTOS
A woman embraces her grandchild as they were reunited at a shelter in Natori, Miyagi, northern Japan Saturday following Friday’s catastrophic earthquake and tsunami.
TOKYO — Inside the troubled nuclear power plant, officials knew the risks were high when they decided to vent radioactive steam from a severely overheated reactor vessel. They knew a hydrogen explosion could occur, and it did. The decision still trumped the worst-case alternative — total nuclear meltdown. At least for the time being. The chain of events started Friday when a magnitude-8.9 earthquake and tsunami severed electricity to the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex 170 miles (270 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo, crippling its cooling system. Then, backup power did not kick in See NUCLEAR, Page 8A
Crime scene discovered in Pittston Authorities investigating trail of blood beneath the Water Street Bridge.
By MATT HUGHES mhughes@timesleader.com
PITTSTON -- Local and state authorities are investigating an apparent crime scene discovered Saturday morning beneath the Water Street Bridge. Authorities found a stripe of
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blood about 6 inches wide crossing a concrete footpath in Riverfront Park. The trail of blood led across the path and disappeared into the soaked ground on the bank of the Susquehanna River. Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll said her office is assisting Pittston City and state police in “investigating what appears to be a crime scene under the Water Street Bridge.” She was with investigators at the state police barracks in
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“We’re treating it as a crime scene.”
Wyoming nearly 12 hours after the initial report to counJackie Musto ty 911 by a Carroll passerby Luzerne County D.A. calling on a cell phone who discovered the blood stains. “There’s nothing that has changed,” said Musto Carroll. “We’re treating it as a crime scene.”
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Two police officers returned to the scene around 7:40 p.m. and used flashlights to search the area. They declined to comment on what they were looking for. The scene is a few blocks from Gabriel House, a former convent and school on William Street converted into transitional housing for women. Musto Carroll declined to say whether that was part of the inSee CRIME, Page 12A
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BILL TARUTIS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER
A State Trooper removes a high-heeled boot at the sight of an apparent crime scene in the Riverfront Park in Pittston Saturday.
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