- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Japan wrestling with nuclear plant blast, quake aftermaths

Subscribe
Radiation levels at Japan's quake-hit Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant are within the norm, and the blast only hit the surface of the unit, leaving the reactor intact, a government spokesman said on Saturday.

Radiation levels at Japan's quake-hit Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant are within the norm, and the blast only hit the surface of the unit, leaving the reactor intact, a government spokesman said on Saturday.

According to Yukio Edano, the explosion went off between the container housing the reactor rods and the external wall of the unit, which means there could not have been any radioactive leak. Radiation levels in the area are falling, Edano added.

Media reports said earlier on Saturday the cooling system had failed at the Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant in northeastern Japan, which was badly hit by the quake on Friday. Government said experts had eased pressure and released steam in the nuclear reactor to prevent any meltdown.

Rescue efforts

International media said the death toll could hit 1,700 considering that hundreds of people are still missing.

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the number of self-defense forces involved in the rescue and clearing effort would be raised from 20,000 to 50,000, the NHK television said.

Self-defense units were also summoned to deal with the consequences of the Fukushima explosion.

Tremors continue

A new earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale rocked through Japan's main island, Honshu, at about 8 p.m. (11 a.m. GMT), the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Car manufacturers

Japan's giant car-manufacturers, Toyota Motor Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd said they suspended their plants due to shortages in car parts in the wake of the quake, the Kyodo news agency said.

Transport grounded

Transportation in Japan remains grounded following the disaster. At least 464 flights, including 30 international flights, have been canceled, trains postponed, and many roads are closed, Kyodo said.

Seven planes operated by Japan's All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines have been damaged by the quake.

 

MOSCOW, March 12 (RIA Novosti)

 

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала