An explosion was reported at the Japanese Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. As the earthquake damaged the ability of the control rods to regulate the fuel, there is speculation that a nuclear meltdown is possible. At this point, events in Japan bear many similarities to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. However as long as the reactor core, pressure and radiation, remains intact, the melted fuel can be dealt with. And with a bit of luck the wind direction could carry the radioactive fallout into the sea.