The operation of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was suspended by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as there were meltdowns of fuel rods at three of the plant's reactors from the damage after the earthquake and tsunami, the company confirmed on Tuesday.

Recent reports say, there might have been meltdowns of fuel rods at the plant's No.2 and No.3 reactors early in the crisis.

The officials of the facility, TEPCO, had announced earlier this month that No. 1 reactor most likely had a fuel meltdown shortly after the disaster.

It had said earlier this month that fuel rods in the No.1 reactor had melted, but officials of the utility, known as Tepco, confirmed at a news conference that there were also meltdowns of fuel rods at the plant's No.2 and No.3 reactors early in the crisis.

Engineers are battling to plug radiation leaks and bring the plant northeast of Tokyo under control more than two months after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and deadly tsunami that devastated a swathe of Japan's coastline and tipped the economy into recession.

TEPCO officials say damage to No.2 reactor fuel rods began three days after the earthquake and the No.3 reactor was damaged by March 13, afternoon.

The tsunami after the earthquake disabled power to the reactors, which resulted in a loss of cooling capabilities.

The meltdowns at the nuclear plant have resulted in a 20-kilometre exclusion zone around the plant in Fukushima prefecture.

Tokyo Electric's share price has dipped by more than 80 percent, forcing the company to seek government aid as it faces compensation liabilities.

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