The operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant will beginpumping out thousands of tonnes of highly radioactive water from one ofthe reactors today.

The Tokyo Electric Power company will use hoses to pump 4,000 tonnes of highly contaminated water from No. 3 reactor.

The radioactive water will then be shifted to a waste disposal facility to stop it from leaking into the environment.

Thecompany says it was forced to pump in extra water after the temperatureinside the No. 3 reactor rose to more than 200 degrees Celsius.

Itis feared nuclear fuel rods have also melted in the No. 2 and 3reactors, with a meltdown already confirmed in the No. 1 reactor.

TheMarch 11 tsunami caused an automatic shutdown at the Fukushima nuclearplant, in which the fuel rods dropped into the reactor shafts to stop achain reaction.

However, the rods continued to emit largeamounts of residual heat which had to be dissipated by watercirculating within the reactor vessel.