Residents of the coastal city of Sendai are continuing the search for survivors amid the devastation
Prime Minister Naoto Kan has said Japan is experiencing its greatest hardships since World War II as it tackles the aftermath of an earthquake, tsunami and a growing nuclear crisis.
He said the situation at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant remained grave, a day after an explosion at a reactor.
Japanese broadcaster NHK says the total number of confirmed deaths caused by the disaster now stands at 1,596.
But police warn that the death toll in Miyagi region alone could top 10,000.
Millions of survivors remain without electricity and authorities are stepping up relief efforts as the scale of the tragedy becomes clearer.
About 310,000 people have been evacuated to emergency shelters, NHK says.
‘Most severe crisis’
The cooling systems of two reactors at the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant failed after the 8.9 magnitude quake struck off the north-east coast. Both in danger of melting down with potentially serious environmental consequences.
Sea water is being injected into reactors 1 and 3 in an attempt to cool them – a last ditch move that will render the reactors unusable.
On Saturday, a hydrogen explosion blew apart the building housing reactor 1, where technicians had been venting steam as part of their attempts to cool the reactor.
Naoto Kan said: “We as Japanese people can overcome these hardships”
Government officials have admitted there is now a risk of a similar explosion in the building housing reactor 3. However, chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano said the facility could withstand the impact and the nuclear reactor itself would not be damaged.
The authorities have said that radiation levels around the damaged plant at one point exceeded legal safety limits, but that these are now falling.
Tens of thousands of people are being evacuated from within a 20km (12.4-mile) radius.
At least 19 people are being treated for the effects of exposure to radiation. Workers in protective clothing have been checking residents as they leave the evacuation zone.
“The current situation of the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear plants is in a way the most severe crisis in the past 65 years since World War II,”Mr Kan said.
Summary:
ReplyDeletePrime Minister Naoto Kan has said Japan is experiencing its greatest hardships since World War II as it tackles the aftermath of an earthquake, tsunami and a growing nuclear crisis,the cooling systems of two reactors at the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant failed after the 8.9 magnitude quake struck off the north-east coast. Both in danger of melting down with potentially serious environmental consequences,at least 19 people are being treated for the effects of exposure to radiationand the workers in protective clothing have been checking residents as they leave the evacuation zone.
Questions:
ReplyDelete1.What is happening to Japan?
2.How the things affected Japan?
3.What was the total number of death in Japan?
4.Which thing's safety limits are now falling?
5.What was the range that the people were evacuated?
Devastation (n.)
ReplyDeleteDevastation is severe and widespread destruction or damage
E.g. A hugh bomb blast brought chaos and devastation.
Tragedy (n.)
Tragedy is an extremely sad event or situation
E.g. They have suffered an enormous personal tragedy.
Magnitude (n.)
Magnitude is used in stating the size or extent of something such as a star earthquake, or explosion
E.g. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 had a magnitude of 8.3.
Evacuated (v.)
To evacuate someone means to send them to a place of safety, away from a dangerous, building, town, or area
E.g. 18,000 people have been evacuated from the area.
Aftermath (n.)
The aftermath of an important event, especially a harmful one, is the situation that results from it
E.g. In the aftermath of the coup, the troops opened fire on the demonstrators.
Radiation (n.)
Radiation is very small particles of a radioactive substance
Many servicemen suffered radiation sickness after the early atomic tests.