In a full meltdown, such as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union, the rods melt completely and the release of energy causes an explosion that contaminates the surrounding area with radioactive material.

WSJ: Uranium Firms Take Hit After Earthquake

In the case of Delphi, GM spun off its parts business but made the new company take the old, high cost union contracts--a recipe for disaster.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Morehouse, Richland, Union and West Carroll parishes were declared primary natural disaster areas.

CNN: Salt creeping up the Mississippi River

Gary Oakes, from the union Unity, said it would be a "disaster for the economy of Stoke-on-Trent" if Waterford Wedgwood could not be saved.

BBC: Tony O'Reilly Jr

The Chernobyl Union of Ukraine, which supports survivors of the disaster, says 140, 000 people who took part in the cleanup have died in the past quarter-century.

CNN: Chernobyl's 25-year shadow

Mr Robinson said the controversy over flying the union flag at Belfast City Hall had been a "disaster" for Northern Ireland.

BBC: Northern Ireland

The general secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt, said the introduction of a higher education market was "a recipe for disaster".

BBC: Universities 'to offer A-grade students cash'