Evacuation, confinement and iodine help protect against nuclear fallout

Evacuation, temporary shelter and iodine pills are the chief weapons for protecting civilians against nuclear fallout, experts say.

Japan is racing to prevent a nuclear disaster, as explosions rocked overheating reactors after cooling systems at the reactors failed following Friday's quake.

Specialists say the authorities have a several-pronged strategy for shielding civilians if there is an explosive breach of the reactor, as in the April 26, 1986, Chernobyl disaster.