The Japanese government has promised nearly half a billion dollars to contain radiation leaks and decontaminate water at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant.The earth under the damaged reactor is to be frozen to stop radioactive waters seeping into the ground. Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said an estimated 473 million dollars would be allocated to the project. The leaks were getting worse and the government felt it was essential to become involved to the greatest extent possible, Mr Suga said.
The plant was crippled by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The disaster knocked out cooling systems to the reactors, three of which melted down.