What would happen to Japan if the Nuclear Reactors reached critical and exploded/meltdown?

Question:

I've been watching the news and all that and I'm just curious that if either happened what would happen to the surrounding area, how far the disaster would reach, how badly it would effect the country, etc. so can someone explain it to me?

Answer:

fortunately, the vast majority of people in a large exclusion zone have been evacuated so the loss of human life would be far lower than it could be.

however, the long term saftey of animal and vegetable products would be in doubt, and they would probably have to import a lot more of their food supplies. the surrounding villages would probably not be rebuilt, there would be a dead abandonned zone around the fukushima plants.i expect the incidnence of thyroid cancer and birth defects would go up.

likely, nculear power for old reactors would be in question across japan. Licencese for plant life extension in europe and all over the world would also be under scrutiny and it is likely that there would be some change in regulations regarding how long old nuclear power plants are allowed to continue operating as a result. ironically, i expect japan would have to build more nuclear reactors to supply the energy lost by the permanent shutdown of 6 plants.

many survivors would never go back to their home towns. the japanese economy would go into deep recession. life would go on though, but i don't think people would move back to the area for a good 20 years, maybe those for whom everything they've got is in that region. i think the majority of people would try to cut their losses, get as much back on insurance as possible, and live elsewhere.