Japan Nuclear Disaster Put on Par With Chernobyl

最悪の事態に

TOKYO — Japan has raised its assessment of the accident at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to the worst rating on an international scale, putting the disaster on par with the 1986 Chernobyl explosion, in an acknowledgement that the human and environmental consequences of the nuclear crisis could be dire and long-lasting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/13/world/asia/13japan.html

12 April 2011 Japan: Nuclear crisis raised to Chernobyl level

Japanese authorities have raised the severity rating of their nuclear crisis to the highest level, seven.
The decision reflects the total release of radiation at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant, which is ongoing, rather than a sudden deterioration.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13045341