Japan Utility Seals Nuclear Plant;'s Lethal Radiation Sectioin

TOKYO — The operator of Japan's damaged nuclear power plant says an area where potentially lethal levels of radiation were detected has been sealed.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Tuesday radiation exceeded 10 sieverts at two locations near a duct connected to a ventilation stack between two reactor units at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant.

No one has been injured, the company said. The area required no immediate work and was closed off.

It also said radiation levels around the complex are not rising. That's a sign the duct wasn't leaking.

Melted fuel in the No. 1 reactor might have collected inside the duct after leaking from the containment vessel during venting early in the crisis, the utility said.

An earthquake and tsunami on March 11 crippled the plant.