Tokyo: Japan feared a nuclear meltdown Saturday, a day after a massive earthquake and a killer tsunami left around 1,600 people dead with about 100 aftershocks traumatizing the country.
Even as Japan struggled to cope with the rising dead and the terrible devastation, fears of a dangerous leak loomed after an explosion shook a nuclear power plant already damaged in the 8.9 magnitude earthquake.
Friday afternoon's quake set off huge tsunami waves, some as high as 10 metres, which slammed the northeastern coast and swept off everything in its path: buildings, cars, ships and people, media reports said.
Four people were injured in the blast at the Fukushima I nuclear plant, 240 km north of Tokyo, Japan's NHK broadcaster reported. The roof of one of the buildings housing a reactor collapsed.
A government spokesman quoted by DPA described the situation at the nuclear power plant as "potentially very serious".
Frantic efforts were on to reduce pressure in the reactors to prevent a meltdown. Radioactive caesium was detected in the vicinity. The presence of the substance is an indication of a meltdown.
The plant operator managed to depressurize the containers housing the reactors, releasing steam that would likely contain radioactive materials.
Earlier in the day, the evacuation zone was extended to residents living within 10 kilometres of the plant. Some 210,000 people were evacuated from the region.
The government held a crisis meeting as Prime Minister Kan Naoto toured the disaster area by helicopter.
Radiation measurements inside the plant were reportedly 1,000 times higher than normal.
An observation post near the plant's gate recorded radiation levels eight times higher than normal.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was alerted by Japan about the crisis situation.
As news of a possible nuclear meltdown broke out, Tokyo residents emptied out shops and stocked up on petrol so that they could leave the capital to avoid the fallout.
The few running trains were packed Saturday evening, television channels said.
The earthquake followed by the tsunami destroyed thousands of homes and wrecked scores of bridges. Bus and train services were hit, and many roads were closed. Mobile phone and landline services were disrupted.
Many people spent the night on roofs of schools, hospitals or government buildings as temperatures dropped to freezing level.
The number of people feared dead or missing could top 1,600, news reports said Saturday.
DPA quoted Yukio Edano, the chief cabinet secretary, as saying: "This is the largest earthquake since the Meiji Era. It is believed more than 1,000 people have lost their lives."
The Meteorological Agency said more than 100 aftershocks had occurred, many over 6 on the Richter scale, creating more panic.
As many as 50,000 military and rescue workers were mobilised, and 190 aircraft and 25 vessels were sent to the worst hit areas.
Survivors Saturday desperately sought information about their loved ones in areas hit by the tsunami.
Lucy Craft, a mother based in Tokyo, was worried about her son who studies in a school in Sendai city.
"I haven't been able to get in touch with him by cell phone, I haven't been able to contact anybody there," Craft told CNN in Tokyo. "It's a very upsetting situation."
The quake left huge buildings, all made to withstand massive earthquakes, swaying dangerously. Over 200 fires broke out all over the country as tens of thousands of people were displaced.
Many residents in earthquake-affected areas Saturday searched for basic essentials. People shopped for food, water and fuel, causing stores to run out of supplies and pumps to run dry.
Electricity supply was restored Saturday morning in Sendai city, one of the worst hit.
Saturday 12 March 2011
Monday 7 March 2011
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