Strong quake and tsunami hits Japan

[Berk]

There seems to be a misunderstanding about what the contents of a reactor vessel melting means.

This does not mean there is an earth-shattering kaboom. It does not mean that the contents of the reactor will melt all the way to the Earth's core. In reality, even if the reactor vessel were to be breached and the contents impacts the concrete under the vessel, the contents of the vessel will not remain hot enough, long enough, to burn through. Especially since the reactor has been scramed at this point.

The huge explosion at Chernobyl was caused by some genius thinking that putting a huge store of water under something as hot as hell, the fuel melted through the bottom of the vessel, (there was no concrete surrounding the vessel) hit the water and caused a blast. (For those familiar with Symphony of the Sword: Specific Heat!)
- Grumpy Uncle Gearhead