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Radioactive material leak confirmed in Japan
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-12 12:04
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TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan visited a quake-stricken nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture on Saturday and said that small amounts of radiation have been released from one of the reactors. ?
"I realized the huge extent of the tsunami damage," Kan said at a press conference upon his return to Tokyo. ?
The prime minister also said that Saturday is a critical day for rescue teams to find survivors.
The 50,000 rescue personnel deployed to the hardest-hit regions, including Japan's Self Defense Force, will do their utmost to help those in need, he said. ?
Regarding the controlled release of a small amount of radioactive steam from Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in order to reduce mounting pressure that could lead to a meltdown, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the steam is not expected to cause any immediate threat to people's health. ?
"We are taking every possible measure to prevent disastrous developments," Edano said, adding that public should remain alert as more aftershocks are highly likely. ?
The National Police Agency said Saturday that the combined number of those who died or are unaccounted for following the 8.8 magnitude quake hitting had risen to more than 1,000. ?
The agency said that 398 bodies have been recovered in nine prefectures, including Tokyo. ? ?
Much of the mortal damage was caused by tsunami waves of more than 10-meters high wiping out whole cities in torrents that swept inland of Pacific coastal regions up to 12-kilometers, devouring everything in their way. ?
A total of 805 people are still unaccounted for following Japan 's biggest-ever earthquake disaster.
At least 15 aftershocks, from 5-6.8 magnitude, hit off Japan's east coast on Saturday following a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Japan Friday afternoon.