Tokyo – Japanese Stock Market Plunge Over Nuclear Fears

Tokyo – Japanese shares have plunged for a second day as investors unload assets on escalating fears of a nuclear crisis.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average at time of posting shed 619 points, or 6 percent, at 9,000 after markets opened in the country Tuesday, extending losses from the previous day.

On Monday, the index tumbled over 6 percent in the first day of trading since the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the northeast coast.

Whole towns were washed away and thousands of people are believed dead. The situation has been exacerbated by cooling failures at a nuclear power plant in the area.