After the devastating earthquake in Japan in which 1.700 people died or are missing, an explosion occurred at Fukushima nuclear power plant on Saturday, which led to a leakage of radioactive material, forcing Japanese authorities to evacuate 300,000 people in the areas near two nuclear reactors.

After different media reports on the kind and place of the incident at the Japanese nuclear complex, the government confirmed that there has been an explosion at the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), that radioactive material has leaked, and that four workers have been injured, but that the steel container in which reactor is located was not damaged.

According to news agencies, the level of radiation measured near the plant was 20 times higher than normal.

Although Japanese authorities earlier said that there is little danger of radioactive material leakage, the state television called on the people living near the plant to stay in their homes, close all doors and windows, turn off air conditioners and not to drink tap water, and if they have to go out, to cover their heads and bodies with masks and wet towels.

Three people evacuated from the area near the Fukushima plant were hospitalized after being exposed to radiation, the Japanese Kyodo news agency reported.

The Japanese Defence Ministry said that a special unit of land forces and the Agency for Nuclear Safety are jointly supervising radioactive substances around the two reactors.

The TEPCO plans to fill a leaking reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant with sea water in order to cool it down and reduce pressure in the unit, spokesperson of the Japanese Prime Minister said on Saturday.

The nuclear reactor is located in a steel reactor container, which is then surrounded by a concrete building that collapsed, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said, noting that there was no large amount of radiation leakage.

Edano said it would take 5 to 10 hours to fill the reactor with sea water and some 10 days to complete the whole process, Reuters reported.

The number of Japanese citizens evacuated from the area around the two nuclear reactors has so far reached 300.000, including 210.000 of five Japanese prefecture’s residents.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) offered on Saturday technical help to Japan in order for the country to overcome the consequences of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami.

The IAEA confirmed its offer of technical assistance to Japan, should the government request it, the agency said, and Reuters reported.

The IAEA also said that Japanese authorities are making preparations to distribute iodine to residents in the area near the plant.