Japan quake aftermath -- Live Report March 16

11:55 pm

Japan's nuclear crisis is developing according to the worst case scenario, the head of Russia's state nuclear corporation said on Wednesday.

11:50 pm

China on Wednesday boosted aid to Japan by announcing the offer of 20,000 tonnes of fuel and additional government donation while the support from the public continued to mount.

11:30 pm

A meeting among foreign ministers of Japan, China and South Korea will go ahead as planned on Saturday in Japan's western city of Kyoto, the government said, a week after a quake and tsunami devastated northeast Japan and triggered a nuclear crisis.

11:25 pm

Japan's Emperor Akihito spoke to the nation Wednesday in the first made-for-TV address of his reign, expressing condolences to victims of the massive earthquake and tsunami and urging the Japanese people not to give up.

11:00 pm

Australia advised its citizens in Japan on Wednesday to consider leaving Tokyo and earthquake-affected areas, joining a growing number of governments and businesses telling their people it may be safer elsewhere.

10：45 pm

A woman cries as she holds the hand of her dead mother buried in mud after an earthquake and a tsunami in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan March 16, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

21:50 pm

A passenger undergoes a check by members of the Auxiliary Medical Services for signs of radiation upon his arrival from Japan at the Hong Kong Airport March 16, 2011. Authorities set up a health booth on Wednesday for passengers arriving from Japan for a health check up on request. Radiation has been released into the atmosphere at a nuclear plant on Japan's northeast coast, which was badly damaged after a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11.[Photo/Agencies]

8:50 pm

People watch a television broadcasting Japan's Emperor Akihito's televised address to the nation at an electronics retail store in Tokyo March 16, 2011. Japanese Emperor Akihito said on Wednesday problems at Japan's nuclear-power reactors were unpredictable and he was "deeply worried" following an earthquake he described as "unprecedented in scale". It was an extraordinarily rare appearance by the emperor and his first public comments since last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands of people.[Photo/Agencies]

8:40 pm

Heavy snow blanketed Japan's devastated northeast on Wednesday, hindering rescue workers and adding to the woes of the few, mainly elderly, residents who remained in the area worst hit by last week's massive earthquake and tsunami.

8:30 pm

China has suspended the approval process for nuclear power stations so that safety standards can be revised after explosions at a Japanese plant, according to Wednesday's executive meeting of the State Council, or the Cabinet. The State Council has required relevant departments to do safety checks at existing plants, according to a statement released after the meeting, which was presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.

8:20 pm

Latest air monitoring results show that China remains unaffected by radioactive leaks following explosions at the Fukushima nuclear plant of Japan, said the country's nuclear watchdog on Wednesday.

The National Nuclear Safety Administration, under China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), issued the statement in a press release based on environmental monitoring results taken by 4:00 p.m. Wednesday. Stations in 41 cities across the country tested levels of radioactive material absorbed in the air. "Nothing unusual has been discovered," said the statement.

8:14 pm

A helicopter was unable to drop water to cool the No.3 reactor at the quake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex in northeastern Japan probably because of the high radiation, Kyodo news agency said, quoting the defence minister.

8:07 pm

The Chinese government announced Wednesday that it has decided to provide 20,000 tonnes of fuel as emergency assistance to Japan after a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami hit the country Friday.

8:03 pm

More than 3,000 Chinese nationals have been evacuated from the worst-hit areas following last week's massive earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan, Chinese diplomats said on Wednesday.

7:50 pm

The National Police Agency said Tuesday that Friday's catastrophic quake and ensuing tsunami have left 4,164 people dead and 7,843 others unaccounted for in Japan by 6:00 p.m. (0900 GMT) Wednesday.

7:43 pm

The French government said on Wednesday that Japan was losing control of the situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plant and urged its nationals in Tokyo to leave the country or head to southern Japan.

7:30 pm

Fuel rods in the No.1 reactor were 70 percent damaged and rods in No.2 reactor were 33 percent damaged, Kyodo says.

7:20 pm

A helicopter was unable to drop water to cool the No.3 reactor at the quake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex in northeastern Japan probably because of the high radiation, Kyodo news agency said, quoting the defence minister.

7:04 pm

China has suspended the approval process for nuclear power stations so that safety standards can be revised after the explosion at a Japanese plant, according to Wednesday's executive meeting of the State Council, or the Cabinet. The State Council has required relevant departments to do safety checks at the existing plants, said the cabinet in a statement released after the meeting, which was presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.

6:34 pm

Japanese Emperor Akihito on Wednesday expressed hope that as many people as possible will remain safe following Friday's devastating earthquake and quake- triggered tsunami and nuclear crisis. In a televised public address, the emperor sincerely hoped that the people will overcome the current difficulties and demonstrate solidarity following the disasters. He also expressed deep concern over the leaks of radioactive substances at the troubled Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant, where blasts and fires broke out after some reactors lost their cooling functions.

6:05 pm

An international rescue effort to help Japan seek survivors of a massive earthquake and tsunami and address a nuclear crisis is gathering pace, with about 100 countries offering assistance.

Japan's government has received offers for assistance from 91 countries, and accepted assistance from about 15 based on assessed needs, mostly for specialised international urban search and rescue (USAR) teams and medical teams.

Following is a list of aid offers:

AFGHANISTAN

The southern Afghan city of Kandahar announced it was donating $50,000.

AUSTRALIA

Sent a 72-strong urban search and rescue team, including sniffer dogs, to Miyagi prefecture. A military transport is also providing airlift support, helping move fresh water, Japanese troops and equipment to the quake zone.

The government has also offered field hospitals and victim identification specialists.

BRITAIN

Sent fire brigade search and rescue specialists and equipment, including heavy lifting and cutting equipment consisting of 64 personnel and two dogs, and said it would send nuclear physicists if requested.

CHINA

A 15-member rescue team arrived in Japan on Sunday, state news agency Xinhua said, bringing four tonnes of equipment for search and rescue operations.

-- The government has donated 30 million yuan ($4.56 million) of relief supplies to Japan, the first batch of which has already left Shanghai, including quilts and tents.

-- Health Minister Chen Zu said China was ready to send whatever medical aid was needed at a moment's notice, Xinhua said.

-- Premier Wen Jiabao said on Monday Beijing stood willing to offer further help.

-- China's Red Cross Society has donated another 5 million yuan ($761,200) in aid to its Japanese counterpart, Xinhua said. The group had donated 1 million yuan following the quake.

FRANCE

France has sent a search and rescue team consisting of 134 personnel.

GERMANY

Germany has sent a search and rescue team made up of 41 personnel and three dogs.

HUNGARY

Hungary's emergency authority said it had offered a 16-member crew as part of the International Response Assistance Network (RANET) programme to check radiation and do medical advisory work in seven monitoring teams.

INDIA

Is ready to send search and rescue teams and relief material. The navy is on standby to send its ships to Japan.

INDONESIA

Will send 15 search and rescue personnel with experience in the Haiti quake as well as blankets, mattresses, water tanks and bottled water in emergency aid.

LITHUANIA

Lithuania's state fire and rescue service said it was ready, in conjunction with the European Union, to offer up to 32 rescuers, including three with search dogs and three paramedics.

MALAYSIA

Will send a team of more than 50 search and rescue personnel. The team includes five tracker dogs and will carry aid material and medicine.

MONGOLIA

Has donated $1 million and 2,500 woollen blankets, and offered to send up to 300 soldiers, the Montsame news agency said.

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand has sent a search and rescue help team consisting of 65 personnel.

PAKISTAN

The foreign ministry said Pakistan was awaiting Japan's response to its offer of assistance. A government official said two planeloads of relief goods, including a field hospital, were ready to fly to Japan, along with a team of doctors.

RUSSIA

Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, said it had offered to help in responding to the problems at Japanese nuclear plants if necessary. Russia sent 75 rescuers on Sunday, the Emergencies Ministry said.

SLOVAKIA

Prime Minister Iveta Radicova told parliament that Slovakia ha0d 250,000 euros ready for Japan, but will coordinate with other EU states. Radicova said Japan had asked not to send rescue workers until they have a general idea how to proceed. Slovaks have 25 rescue workers ready.

SOUTH KOREA

A 102-member South Korean rescue team left for Fukushima, site of the stricken nuclear plant, on Monday. A further 100 rescue workers are on standby.

SRI LANKA

Announced $1 million aid and a military relief team with medical assistance to be dispatched to Japan.

TAIWAN

A 28-member team of rescue specialists left for Tokyo on Monday, including specialists who helped in rescue efforts after February's earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. It has sent a first batch of supplies, including clothing, blankets and food, and will start shipping heaters.

THAILAND

The cabinet has allocated 200 million baht ($6.58 million) for clothes, gloves, rubber boots, instant food and other goods. It will also send 15,000 tonnes of rice.

-- A first medical team was to look after the interests of up to 600 Thai nationals. A further team of 17 is ready to go.

UNITED STATES

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan has arrived in Japan to assist relief efforts and other U.S. warships were also off the coast.

-- The U.S. embassy in Tokyo has provided an initial $100,000 in immediate disaster relief assistance, and Washington is ready to provide any additional help requested.

-- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a disaster assistance response team (DART) that includes nuclear experts, and urban search and rescue teams, comprising 144 people and 12 dogs.

VIETNAM

Will provide $200,000 in quake/tsunami aid. the Vietnamese Red Cross will give an initial $50,000, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.

5:40 pm

Japanese electronics manufacturers warned production would be hobbled by further supply and distribution problems as companies struggle with power blackouts after the disaster in Japan. Canon said it would suspend production at one of its main plants in Oita, southern Japan, blaming problems with parts supply and distribution.

5:27 pm

Plant official says withdrawn workers preparing to return to stricken Japanese nuclear plant, AP reports.

5:20 pm

Japan’s defense minister says it has not been possible to drop water from a helicopter onto the reactor, according to a report by Kyodo news agency.

It says this appears to be due to high radiation levels.

5:13 pm

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano has given another press conference reaffirming that there is no immediate health risk around the nuclear plant.

5:03 pm

Japan’s Self Defense Force has aborted an operation to spray water on the leaking nuclear reactors by helicopter due to safety reasons, NHK TV reported.

5:01 pm

Nearly half a million people will spend tonight in evacuation shelters across Japan without heating, temperatures are expected to drop to minus 5, NHK TV reports.

4:59 pm

The World Heath Organization says there is no evidence of significant international radiation spread from Japan, and that governments and the public should take steps to stop unfounded rumours of radiation spread.

4:56 pm

Tokyo Electric Power says it is still unable to resume work on cooling the reactors due to radiation risk.

The latest information on each reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is as follows:

Reactor No 1: seawater being pumped in to cool

Reactor No 2: Suppression chamber ruptured, temperature has stabilized

Reactor No 3: Highest levels of radiation recorded today, helicopter to drop water

Reactor No 4: Explosion heard at 5:45 am, flames seen, radiation rising

Reactor No 5: temperatures rising

Reactor No 6: temperatures rising

4:40 pm

Private jets are in hot demand as the Japan exodus grows. Prices for private jets have leapt up thousands.

"I got a request yesterday to fly 14 people from Tokyo to Hong Kong, 5 hour 5 minutes trip. They did not care about price," Reuters quotes Jackie Wu of Hong Kong Jet as saying.

The operator of Japan's quake-stricken nuclear power complex recorded the site's highest levels of radiation at the No 3 reactor on Wednesday, Tokyo Electric Power Co Ltd said.

4:20 pm

Medical staff use a Geiger counter to screen a woman for possible radiation exposure at a public welfare centre in Hitachi City, Ibaraki, March 16, 2011, after she was evacuated from an area within 20 km (12.4 miles) radius of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. [Photo/Agencies]

4:00 pm

Turkey is the latest country advising citizens to postpone non-essential travel to Japan, Reuters reports.

Australia, China and France have told their nationals to leave the quake-ravaged country.

3:55 pm

In a rare televised address to his people, Japan's Emperor Akihito has expressed his condolences to disaster victims, appeals to people not to give up hope.

"I pray for the safety of as many people as possible." This is the first public comments since last week's earthquake.

3:29 pm

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday urged Australians who are in disaster-affected areas of Japan to consider leaving.

3:16 pm

Officials at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant say temperatures in reactor 2 have stabilized.

The suppression chamber and nuclear core has ruptured, Reuters reports.

3:05 pm

A new photograph has been released showing the damage caused by explosions at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

2:50 pm

Tokyo stock market closed:

Nikkei 225   9,093.72     up 488.57

TOPIX          817.63        up 50.90 from Tuesday.

2:45 pm

Japan self-defense forces are preparing to pour water on reactor 3 from helicopter, according to NHK TV.

2:30 pm

More than 2,000 Chinese have been evacuated from Japan's northeast following radiation leaks at a nuclear power plant.

China News Service quoted a spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, Deng Wei, as saying that more than 2,000 people were evacuated from Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and other quake-hit areas by Wednesday morning and taken to Tokyo and Niigata.

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo said on its website about 33,000 Chinese were in Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Iwate prefectures, the hardest-hit provinces.

1:57 pm

Good afternoon from the live update desk of chinadaily.com.cn. Here are the latest developments on the crisis in Japan:

• Japan ordered emergency workers to withdraw from its stricken nuclear power complex Wednesday amid a surge in radiation, temporarily suspending efforts to cool overheating reactors. Fire and smoke could be seen coming from site throughout the morning.

• France has urged its nationals to leave Japan. Air France has been asked to begin an evacuation. China is evacuating its citizens and airlines are providing extra planes.

• The official toll of the dead and missing following a devastating earthquake and tsunami that crippled Japan's northeast coast has topped 11,000. Japan’s highest number of casualties since World War II.

• Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano calls on all people in Japan to conserve energy and not panic-shop as the country faces a fuel and food crisis.

• More than half a million people are living in shelters with no heating in freezing conditions as snow storms hit the area, hampering rescue efforts.

• A strong tremor rocked earthquake-affected areas of Japan including Tokyo after a 6.0 quake struck offshore, east of Chiba prefecture.

• Japan’s Nikkei index ended the morning trading up 4.3 percent as investors take advantage of the cheap stock that was dumped after Friday’s massive quake.

1:38 pm

A woman shops for food from almost empty shelves at a supermarket in Morioka March 16, 2011, after an earthquake and tsunami hit the area last week. [Photo/Agencies]

1:34 pm

Chinese airlines put on additional flights to Japan Wednesday in the wake of the government's decision to evacuate citizens from areas worst hit by last week's earthquake and tsunami and affected by nuclear radiation.

China Eastern Airlines based in Shanghai will send an additional passenger flight, Airbus 340-300, Wednesday to Niigata Airport, where about 1,500 Chinese nationals are waiting to leave, Xinhua reports.

1:08 pm

Heavy snow falls on a factory area devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, northern Japan March 16, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

1:00 pm

France is urging its nationals in Tokyo to leave Japan or head to the south of the country, Reuters reports.

Paris has asked Air France to provide plane for an evacuation.

12:19 pm

A strong tremor has rocked earthquake-affected areas including Tokyo, NHK says.

The 6.0 quake was offshore, east of Chiba prefecuture.

The death toll is now expected to rise to 11,000, according to Japan NHK TV.

11:33 am

The Nuclear Agency says cabinet secretary made a mistake about figures.

11:25 am

Breaking News

An emergency bulletin has been just released in Japan warning against a strong earthquake.

11:18 am

Japan’s Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency has just issued the latest radiation figures from this morning at the monitoring gate No 3 at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Timings are local.

10:10 am : 908.5 microsievert

10:20 am : 2,399 microsievert

10:30 am : 1,361 microsievert

10:45 am : 6,400 microsievert

10:55 am : 2,900 microsievert

11:00 am : 3,391 microsievert

10:56 am

10:51 am

Japan has suspended operations to prevent a stricken nuclear plant from melting down after a surge in radiation made it too dangerous for workers to remain at the facility.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said work on dousing reactors with water was disrupted by the need to withdraw.

10:46 am

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says 145 citizens were in Japan’s worst hit areas and remain unaccounted for.

Two members of an Australian search and rescue team who landed 20 km outside the exclusion zone showed low levels of radiation on their boots.

10:40 am

Tokyo Electric Power Company has released a photograph of the No 4 reactor building at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant showing an 8-meter-square hole on the outer wall of the building, from the 4th floor to the 5th, near where the storage pool is for spent nuclear rods.

10:32 am

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says temperatures at the stricken plant are rising and they are trying to cool it down.

He said water from helicopters could be used, but pouring too much water in a short period of time could make the situation worse.

10:24 am

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says it appears that vapor is coming out of the broken containment vessel at reactor No 3 at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, radiation levels remain high.

10:19 am

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano calls on all people in Japan to conserve energy.

"In order to secure nationwide fuel we are asking the international community for help," he said.

10:07 am

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano is about to hold a press conference on the latest developments.

10:00 am

Current smoke

9:40 am

Good Morning and welcome to chinadaily.com.cn live report of the latest developments on the crisis in Japan following Friday’s massive earthquake, tsunami and enduring nuclear crisis. Here are the latest developments:

• White smoke continues to billow from the Fukushima nuclear power plant following the break out of another fire at 5:45 am (local time). The operator of Japan's stricken nuclear power plant is considering spraying water and acid by helicopters and fire trucks into its troubled reactors to prevent further radiation from leaking.

• Winds over a radiation-leaking nuclear power plant in northern Japan will blow from the north along the Pacific coast early on Wednesday and then from the northwest towards the ocean during the day time, the Japan Meteorological Agency says.

• Japan’s Nikkei average rose more than six percent during early trading Wednesday after suffering its worst two day sell-off in 24 years.

• The death toll will exceed 10,000. At least 3,570 people have been confirmed dead, with 7,558 people still missing. Nearly 450,000 people have been evacuated. About 850,000 people are without power. 76,000 buildings have been damaged and 6,330 completely destroyed.

• Plant operator has pulled out 750 workers, leaving just 50, and 30-km no-fly zone has been imposed around the reactors.

• The US Navy says some arriving warships will take position on the west coast of Japan's main island of Honshu because of hazards on the east coast. A growing number of US Forces are being exposed to low levels of radiation, it said.

9:16 am

White smoke can be seen billowing from the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant following the break out of another fire at the No 4 reactor, Japan’s NHK TV reported.

8:50 am

After suffering from the biggest two-day sell-off in 24 years, shares on Tokyo’s Nikkei index started 3.73 percent higher due to bargain buying following the nuclear crisis.

05:45 am

A fire broke out again early Wednesday at the troubled No 4 reactor of the quake-hit Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co said.

05:30 am

If the containment at the nuclear power plant damaged by Japan's devastating earthquake fails, a potential radiation plume from a full core meltdown could reach Tokyo, a US scientists' organization said on Tuesday.

05:11 am

Foreign firms set up evacuation plans in Tokyo and parts of northern Japan on Tuesday in a bid to distance staff from a quake-crippled nuclear plant while keeping their businesses running.

04:55 am

An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted near the east coast of Honshu, Japan at 5:30 am local time Wednesday (2030 GMT Tuesday), the US Geological Survey said. The epicenter, with a depth of 23.80 km, was initially determined to be at 35.2518 degrees north latitude and 141.1928 degrees east longitude.

04:15 am

More US military crews were exposed to radiation Tuesday as the Pentagon ramped up relief flights over a Japan reeling from an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

04:05 am

UN experts have arrived in Japan to help assess humanitarian needs, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is continuing to monitor the situation at impacted nuclear plants in the country, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said here Tuesday.

03:41 am

Japan raced to avert a catastrophe on Wednesday after an explosion at a quake-crippled nuclear power plant sent radiation wafting into Tokyo, prompting some people to flee the capital and others to stock up on essential supplies.

03:30 am

Japan will take at least five years to reconstruct its earthquake and tsunami afflicted regions as it balances the need to rebuild houses, roads and power grids with planning for disaster-proof infrastructure.

03:10 am

The US military took new steps to safeguard its personnel from radiation spread by Japan's earthquake-crippled nuclear plant on Tuesday, moving arriving warships to safer waters and cautioning some forces to limit outdoor activity.

02:55 am

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted off the east coast of Honshu, Japan, the US Geological Survey said.

02:50 am

Californian authorities on Tuesday ruled out the possibility that radiation from Japan would pose a threat to the US West Coast.

02:45 am

The White House says that unlike some other countries the US is not recommending that American citizens leave Tokyo over radiation concerns.

02:40 am

The Japanese government has ordered the injection of water into a spent-fuel pool at the No.4 reactor of Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Kyodo news agency said on Wednesday.

01:15 am

Russia's nuclear chief warned on Tuesday that all six reactors at a stricken Japanese nuclear plant could melt down unless the authorities scrambled to cool down the nuclear fuel rods.

00:50 am

China's meteorological authority announced Tuesday the nuclear radiation leakage following explosions at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan would not affect China over the next three days.

00:45 am

Japan's transport ministry says it has imposed a no-fly zone over a 20-mile (30-kilometer) radius around the stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.

00:27 am

Tokyo Electric Power could still be held liable for the problems at its nuclear power plant as the Japanese government has not yet decided whether to classify Friday's devastating earthquake an "exceptional" natural disaster.

00:26 am

The UN nuclear watchdog chief said on Tuesday there might be limited core damage at the No 2 unit of the earthquake-stricken Fukushima power plant.

00:10 am

Dangerous levels of radiation leaking from a crippled nuclear plant forced Japan to order 140,000 people to seal themselves indoors Tuesday after an explosion and a fire dramatically escalated the crisis spawned by a deadly tsunami.

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