20110417

Fukuyama apologizes to Iitate villagers for anxieties

by Kyodo

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama apologized Saturday to residents of Iitate whose village the government has said is to be added to the evacuation zone due to fears about radiation from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. "I apologize from the bottom of my heart for causing dismay, concern and anxieties" due to the addition made one month after the Fukushima Daiichi plant was stricken by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, he told a meeting with some 100 representatives of villagers. (Kyodo)

Accumulated radiation tops 17,000 microsieverts in Fukushima's Namie

by Kyodo

The accumulated radiation level in Namie, 30 kilometers from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, in the three weeks through Friday stood at 17,010 microsieverts, according to a tally released by the science ministry Saturday. The accumulated levels during the period starting March 23 stood at 9,850 microsieverts in Iitate and 495 microsieverts in Minamisoma, both near the plant, it said. The readings compare with the level of 1,000 microsieverts that ordinary people in Japan can expect to be exposed to over one year. (Kyodo)

Japan nuclear commission fails to send experts to Fukushima

by Kyodo

The Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan has failed to send designated experts to Fukushima Prefecture to look into the crisis at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant even though a national disaster-preparedness plan requires it to do so, many of the experts said Saturday. A commission spokesperson said problems following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami such as blackouts had discouraged it from sending any experts to Fukushima Prefecture, but many of the specialists and government officials questioned the claim. (Kyodo)