Disasters

A week after quake, Japan's leader vows to rebuild
The Japanese government acknowledged it was slow to respond to the disasters that the prime minister called a "great test for the Japanese people."
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is urging residents and businesses to prepare fuel oil, gasoline and petroleum tanks for possible flooding in the next few weeks.
U.S. aviation regulators and airline meteorologists are monitoring the radiation plume drifting northeast from Japan's damaged nuclear reactors to ensure it doesn't threaten commercial jet routes.
Moorhead to start building sandbag dikes next week
Moorhead city officials said Thursday that sandbag dike construction will start next week, although the Red River hasn't started flooding yet.
Photos: Gas explosion in south Minneapolis
A natural gas-fueled fire erupted in south Minneapolis on Thursday, March 17, 2011. The fire forced Interstate 35W to close in both directions for a time. There were no reported injuries and the fire was extinguished.
The human cost of the disaster in Japan
The BBC's "World Have Your Say" continues its live coverage of the earthquake and tsunami aftermath in Japan, this time looking at the desperation of the people who lack food, water, and information. The program will also bring updates from the uprisings in Libya and Bahrain.
How bad is the nuclear crisis in Japan?
The United States has authorized the evacuation of U.S. citizens from Japan in light of the nuclear crisis there. What dangers does the situtation there pose?
Japanese choppers dump water on stricken reactor
Military helicopters dumped loads of seawater onto Japan's stricken nuclear complex Thursday, turning to combat-style tactics while trying to cool overheated uranium fuel that may be on the verge of spewing out more radiation.
Helicopters dump water to cool reactor in Japan
Nuclear plant operators trying to avoid complete reactor meltdowns said Thursday that they were close to completing a new power line that might end Japan's crisis, but several ominous signs have also emerged: a surge in radiation levels, unexplained white smoke and spent fuel rods that U.S. officials said could be on the verge of spewing radioactive material.