The BBC reports that the head of the Nuclear Industry and Safety Agency, Nobuaki Terasaka, the head of the natural resources and energy agency Tetsuhiro Hosono, and the vice-minister for economy, trade and industry, Kazuo Matsunaga, have been fired because of the problems at Fukushima Daiichi.
Also, according to the report, Japan's Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda is also planning to resign to take responsibility, but did not give a date.
The report also said that there are plans to establish a new independent atomic safety regulatory body.
Other media reports suggest that prime minister Naoto Kan will not survive the disaster, and will resign in weeks.
