TOKYO, April 12 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average tumbled, dropping for a second straight day on Tuesday, on growing worries that the impact of the March 11 earthquake may be more severe than hoped for and as Japan put its nuclear crisis on par with Chernobyl.
Car and electronics makers were sold off while declines in oil prices spurred profit-taking in energy-related shares, pushing the Nikkei stock average below key support of 9,612.51, where April options settled last week.
The Nikkei fell 1.7 percent or 164.44 points to 9,555.26. The broader Topix index dropped 1.6 percent to 838.51. (Reporting by Ayai Tomisawa and Antoni Slodkowski)