Japan Faces Prospect of Nuclear Catastrophe as Workers Leave Plant - NYTimes.com

By HIROKO TABUCHI, KEITH BRADSHER and MATTHEW L. WALD

Published: March 14, 2011

TOKYO — Japan faced the likelihood of a catastrophic nuclear accident Tuesday morning, as an explosion at the most crippled of three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station damaged its crucial steel containment structure, emergency workers were withdrawn from the plant, and much larger emissions of radioactive materials appeared immiment, according to official statements and industry executives informed about the developments.