Reuters reports from Tokyo: Japanese authorities have been working desperately to avert a meltdown, compounding a nuclear catastrophe caused by Friday's massive quake and tsunami.
The core container was intact, Jiji news agency said, quoting the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co, but the local government warned those still in the 20-km (13-mile) evacuation zone to stay indoors. Kyodo news agency quoted TEPCO as saying workers were injured in latest explosion.
Yahoo! India News brings you updates on the disaster. Refresh this page for the latest.
10:00pm: Photos: Japan earthquake and tsunami - before and after [Must See]
9:40pm: Japan has officially asked the UN nuclear watchdog the IAEA for experts to help in the current nuclear crisis, AFP reports
9:29pm: Tokyo Electric is preparing to start pumping water into Daiichi No.2 unit to cover rods
9:15pm: The devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan will rank among the costliest natural disasters on record, experts predict.
8:45pm: Rolling power outages have begun with many still without water, food and fuel
8:30pm: About 2,000 bodies reportedly found on the shore in Miyagi prefecture
8:00pm: Tokyo Electric says fuel rods at Daiichi No. 2 unit exposed again
7:45pm: Japan's crippled coastline doesn't get worse than this, says Patrick Fuller of the International Red Cross Federation.
7.30pm: Heartbroken by the scenes of devastation in Japan, US President Barack Obama said the US will stand with Japan in the difficult days ahead.
7:00pm: US engineering giant General Electric, which supplied reactors to Japan's stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, says it is to donate $5 million to relief efforts.
6:30pm: According to the US geological survey, there have been 38 earthquakes in Japan today alone.
6:10pm: This image by NASA shows the effects of the tsunami on Japan's coastline.
6:05pm: Radioactive releases in Japan could last months, experts say
5.45pm: Meltdown alert at Fukushima reactor; Japan scrambles to avert meltdown at quake-stricken nuclear plant
5.15pm: Shinmoedake volcano erupts as Japan struggles in earthquake aftermath
Hundreds of people fled after Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano erupted, shattering windows 6km away, as the nation struggles with the aftermath of a massive earthquake and tsunami.
4:53pm: Twenty-two test positive for radiation contamination, reports Al Jazeera.
4:51pm: Radiation leak at Fukushima can hurt recovery of nuclear power industry.
4:48pm: Containment vessel at nuclear plant intact, says UN watchdog.
4:36pm: Only Buddhist temple, supermarket survive tsunami in coastal town Otsuchi.
4:34pm: France urges its citizens to leave Tokyo area.
Rescue workers airlift tsunami survivors
4:19pm: What are the dangers? Will the situation improve? Can the reactors be cooled? A quick guide to the crisis in Fukushima.
4:17pm: US pulls ships, aircraft away from Japanese nuke plant area.
4:15pm: Singapore tests food imports from Japan for radiation contamination.
4:10pm: Middle-East crude prices may ease as Japan resorts to distress sale.
4:06pm: Bihar minister claims astrology can predict tsunamis.
3:58pm: Aid: A quick list of what friendly countries are offering to give Japan in its hour of need.
3:54pm: International relief efforts begin; 70 countries pledge support for Japan.
3:43pm: Prime minister Manmohan Singh orders review of safety at India's nuclear installations.
3:38pm: Indians in Japan are safe, says foreign minister S M Krishna.
3.12pm: India sends its first relief plane to Japan.
3:06pm: Too early to say how Fukushima explosions will affect nuclear power industry, says General Electric CEO.
2:57pm: Monday's explosion has left 11 injured. Seven others have gone missing.
2:53pm: Japan, world's third largest economy, is likely to slip into a long recession.
US Navy releases video of supplies being loaded for Japan relief.
2:45pm: Suzuki stocks fall 3 per cent in India.
2:41pm: Disaster coverage: Wall Street Journal puts out interactive before-and-after pictures.
2:36pm: Opposition-ruling party truce may not last long. Leaders are already criticising prime minister Kan's handling of the humanitarian crisis.
2:32pm: South Korean pop star makes a donation towards Japanese disaster relief, reports Straits Times.
2:20pm: Japan reactor explosions will affect US nuclear industry, reports The New York Times: Obama is seeking tens of billions of dollars in government insurance for new nuclear construction, and the nuclear industry in the United States, all but paralyzed for decades after the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, was poised for a comeback.
2:17pm: Experts worried, fear radiation releases in Japan could last months.
1:21pm: Would you like to help? Japanese Red Cross Society is accepting donations.
1:20pm: More than 4.5 lakh people evacuated.
Just released video shows tsunami going over a sea wall, destroying boats and cars.Newly released video of tsunami
1pm: Fifty-year-old tsunami survivor can't believe his eyes, feels like he's in a movie.
12:54pm: Japanese PM urges people not to be pessimistic, says disaster could create huge demand for products and services, according to a Japan Times report.
12:40pm: Indian nuclear establishment describes Japan explosions as a 'freak case'.
12:30pm: Radiation containment efforts may be failing, reports Al Jazeera.
12:22pm: Auto, steel, electronics factories suspend operations across Japan.
Video shows train tracks hanging in the air.Japan video
12:16pm: Blackouts in Japan to conserve power; stocks plunge.
12:10pm: Another video from the disaster area.
11:47pm: Facts about Japan's nuclear problems: How does Fukushima compare with Three Mile Island, site of the worst nuclear accident in the US?
11:45pm: Evacuation area around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station expanded to 20 km from 10 km, which means 1.8 lakh more people have to relocate. (About 2.1 lakh people have already been told to evacuate the areas.)
11:36pm: Even as aftershocks continue, Japanese media say 7 magnitude quake likely in the next few days.
11:33pm: A compilation of disaster pictures.
11.15am: Malaysian paper criticised for running an insensitive cartoon on the quake issues a public apology.
11.08am: Russia, China put diplomatic differences aside and offer all help to Japan
10.50am: According to a New York Times report a US warrior aircraft passed through the radiation clouds. The report says the crew was exposed to one month's worth of radiation in an hour..
10.49am: Toyota has decided to halt all production till Wednesday.
10.41am: According to Kyodo news agency reports, 11 people were injured in the nuclear reactor blast
10.35am: Over 2000 bodies were washed up on the shores of Miyagi
10:25am: Nuclear operator says radiation levels at unit that exploded "within legal limits".
10:22am: Woman isolated after fears of radiation hit Fukushima neighbourhood.
10:12am: Seven ways to help. Mashable offers tips on how you can harness the power of social media to help relief efforts in Japan.
10:05am: Japanese language helplines (missing persons): Iwate: 0120-801-471; Miyagi: 022-221-2000; Fukushima: 0120-510-186 / 090-8424-4207 / 090-8424-4208
9.59am: Japan's stocks plunge on first trade day after quake. Tokyo market's shakedown has caused a loss of billions of dollars.
9:55am: Rescuers dig for survivors, but the going is tough.
9:52am: Japanese trying to come to terms with disaster, The Guardian reports from Sendai and northern Japan.
Also read
* Nuclear crisis: Many questions, few answers
* Singapore tests food imports from Japan for contamination
* Japan likely to slip into deep, long recession
* Truce between Japanese ruling party, opposition may not last long
* Tsunami survivor feels like he's in a movie
* Japan nuclear accident a rare case, say Indian scientists
* Japan doubles rescue force (pictures)
* Second explosion in three days
* Tsunami may have killed 10,000
* Worst crisis since WWII, says Japanese PM