"Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency's Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) that there has been an explosion at the Unit 1 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, and that they are assessing the condition of the reactor core," the watchdog said in a statement.

"The explosion was reported to NISA by the plant operator, TEPCO, at 0730 CET (0630 GMT). Further details were not immediately available," the statement said.

The explosion at the plant has raised fears of radioactive meltdown a day after a massive quake struck the facility's cooling system.

The Japanese authorities have extended the evacuation zone around the plant to a 20-kilometre (12-mile) radius from the previous 10 kilometres, the IAEA said.

At the nearby Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant, the evacuation zone has been extended to a 10-kilometre radius from the previous three kilometres.

"The authorities also say they are making preparations to distribute iodine to residents in the area of both the plants," the IAEA said.

The watchdog said it had reiterated its offer of technical assistance to Japan, "should the government request this."

The IAEA "continues to liaise with the Japanese authorities, and is in full response mode to monitor the situation closely around the clock as it evolves," it added.

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