According to Beyond Nuclear, The explosion at Fukushima destroyed the cladding of the upper third of the reactor building. The photos I’ve seen show the remaining steel structure for the weather cover that was over the refueling deck and the top of the “spent fuel” pool. These panels are designed to “blow out” at overpressure.
Apparently the reactor containment remains intact, but damage to fuel rods might have occurred because there have been reports of elevated levels of radioactive iodine and cesium outside of the reactor containment.
According to the New Scientist, the Fukushima Daiichi plant went into operation in 1971, 40 years ago, and is due for decommissioning. That is the reason that TEPCO decided to flood it with seawater laced with boric acid, which absorbs neutrons and inhibits nuclear chain reactions. Apparently injecting sea water began just after 9am Eastern Time and is expected to require ten hours to complete.
Apparently the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has sent two specialists in boiling water nuclear reactors as part of a broader US aid team travelling to the disaster zone.
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