JAPAN: U.S. military checks for radiation as relief supplies are sent to Northern Japan

Record ID: 463539

  • Title: JAPAN: U.S. military checks for radiation as relief supplies are sent to Northern Japan
  • Date: 30th March 2011
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 29, 2011) (REUTERS) PLANE PARKED AT AIR BASE AIR BASE RADAR VARIOUS OF HELICOPTER TAKING OFF
  • Embargoed: 14th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA5D8MQSOS8WAD8QIVTVWN6E4IM
  • Story Text: Every U.S. military aircraft that has flown to areas near Japan's leaking nuclear plant to deliver relief supplies to earthquake and tsunami survivors is being checked for radiation, officials said on Tuesday (March 29).
    The U.S. Air Force Japan's Yokota base, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Tokyo, has taken on the task of delivering much needed water and fuel to survivors in northern Japan since a massive earthquake and tsunami ravaged the area early this month, leaving around 28,000 missing or dead.
    "I can tell you that we probably don't get close enough or we are terribly concerned. But we are very cautious people. We are looking at every aircraft that comes back or goes anywhere near that facility. So people who look at that every day, we want them to feel secure so we put them in a suit, so they can go out and check all the aircraft and personnel that come off. But so far those suits have not been needed. So we are very fortunate and the air in Yokota is great and we have no issues with water and alike, so we are pretty comfortable here at Yokota air base," said Colonel Paul Otto Feather, Commander of U.S. Yokota Air Base.
    The nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in northeastern Japan is showing little sign of progress as engineers battle to contain the leak caused by the double disaster on March 11.
    On Monday (March 28), highly contaminated water was found in concrete tunnels extending beyond one reactor, while at the weekend radiation hit 100,000 times over normal in water inside another. Plutonium, which is used along with uranium in one of the wrecked reactors has raised more fears over the plant which is the world's worst atomic crisis in 25 years.
    Washington has provided $46.4 million of aid assistance to Japan, as well as emergency support including personnel, ships and helicopters to help with relief deliveries, the embassy in Tokyo said.
    The U.S. military has been helping to distribute food, blankets and other supplies to the tens of thousands who have been left homeless by the double natural disaster and an ensuing nuclear crisis.
    It also sent two of its barges to the Fukushima nuclear facility, that together would provide 525,000 gallons (2.0 million litres) of fresh water for cooling the crippled reactors.
    Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano expressed his country's gratitude to its long-time ally.
    "We would like to use as much as possible the knowledge and experience of the Americans and the Americans have been very forthcoming (in offering assistance) and we are very grateful," said Edano.
    With towns on Japan's northeast coast reduced to apocalyptic landscapes of mud and debris, more than a quarter of a million people, including many of its aging population, are homeless and in need of aid.
    The event may be the world's costliest natural disaster, with estimates of damage topping $300 billion.
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