A large Typhoon is tracking toward the Fukushima nuclear plant.

"At least three people in Japan have been killed as Typhoon Wipha, described by forecasters as "the strongest in 10 years", passed close to Tokyo.

Around 30 people were unaccounted for on Izu Oshima Island, which lies in the Pacific 120 kilometres south of central Tokyo, after five houses were destroyed or swept away by a series of landslides and floods according to the national broadcaster NHK.

The storm, which has not made landfall, is tracking along Japan's east coast on a path which will take it towards the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

The operator of the plant says it has released some rain water that was trapped inside its barrages, but the radiation reading was within safety limits."

Mark Willacy reports for Australian ABC October 15, 2013. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Japan on Gas, Coal Power Building Spree To Fill Nuclear Void" (Reuters) [3]

"Plummeting Morale at Fukushima Daiichi as Nuclear Cleanup Takes Its Toll" (Guardian) [4]