EMERGENCY: ‘HIGH’ LEVEL RADIATION RELEASED AT FUKUSHIMA; WORKERS TOLD TO LEAVE AREA; U.S. MILITARY ASKED FOR HELP; LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WIND ETA 10 HOURS TO TOKYO
March 15th, 2011Shelter-in-Place in a Radiation Emergency
Via: Reuters:
Japan’s prime minister warned on Tuesday that radioactive levels had become high around an earthquake-stricken nuclear power plant after explosions at two reactors, adding that the risk of more radioactive leakage was rising.
Naoto Kan urged people within 30 km (18 miles) of the facility north of Tokyo to remain indoors.
The French embassy in the capital warned in an advisory that a low level of radioactive wind could reach Tokyo — 240 km (150 miles) south of the plant — in about 10 hours.
The reactor operator asked the U.S. military for help, while Kyodo news agency said radiation levels nine times normal levels had been briefly detected in Kanagawa near Tokyo.
“We are making every effort to prevent the leak from spreading. I know that people are very worried but I would like to ask you to act calmly,” Kan said in an address to the nation.
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The fear at the Fukushima plant is of a major radiation leak after the quake and tsunami knocked out cooling systems.
Jiji news agency said the first explosion on Tuesday damaged the roof and steam was rising from the complex. It also reported some workers had been told to leave the plant, a development one expert had warned beforehand could signal a worsening stage for the crisis.
