UN: nuclear reactor crisis in Japan ‘very serious’

The explosion at the nuclear pant that triggered the crisis

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) — The United Nations’ (UN) on Wednesday announced that its International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief will fly out to Japan, calling the nuclear reactor crisis in Japan “very serious.”

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, who said he would like to receive better information from the Japanese, said he would spend one night in the country and then report back to the IAEA Board of Governors.

Confirming damage to three cores, which remain partially uncovered by cooling waters, Amano said the situation is “very serious.”

“I will fly to Japan as soon as possible, hopefully tomorrow, to get the latest information from them and learn from our Japanese counterparts how best the IAEA can help them,” Amano said during a press conference in Vienna.

Amano is also sending two teams of experts to Japan, one on nuclear safety, the other on radiation protection, in response to the nuclear crisis that resulted from power being cut to the reactors’ cooling systems at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant when a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck the country last Friday.

“We do not know the exact situation inside the reactor vessels, but the pressure inside remains above atmospheric pressure; this suggests that they remain largely intact,” he said, noting that increased temperatures have also been observed at spent fuel ponds and the radiation dose rates in Tokyo and other cities have increased “very slightly” to levels that he stressed are not dangerous to humans’ health.

Also on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan to again extend his sympathy at the catastrophic impact of the quake and tsunami, which may have claimed well in excess of 10,000 lives, according to media reports, and cut a vast swathe of total devastation along the north-eastern coast of Honshu, the largest island.

Ban also remains very concerned regarding the nuclear crisis while appreciating the Government of Japan’s efforts to contain the risk to the population, his spokesperson said, as the UN stands ready to provide any additional support if requested.

Meanwhile the UN World Food Program has been asked to assist in relief efforts, providing specialized logistics support in delivering water, tents, and blankets to families who have spent many nights already in freezing temperatures without heating and other necessities.

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8 Comments

  1. DOGGIE
    March 18, 2011

    DAM DAT IS A BIG EXPLOSION

  2. only
    March 17, 2011

    And they should know. What about the possible involvement by HAARP.
    Doesn’t it seem strange to some people that the earthquake was that massive and so stagegically located near the nuclear power plants.

    • mouth of the south
      March 18, 2011

      is this a conspiracy theory now hhhmmmm,,,, well i don’t think ‘man’ have the power or technological advancement to cause a quake that could shift the earth on its axis,,,, when haiti quake happened mr chavez blamed the u.s.a,,, i’ve never known any country that have such capabilities but nothing is impossible,,, i keeping my eyes n ears open lol

      • only
        March 18, 2011

        Do your homework. They have had the capability since the ’60’s. It’s not the US that is doing it, it is the elite globalists that work through the power countries that are dictating. You know the people that control all the money in the world.
        And there is no such thing as a conspiracy theory.

  3. Praying
    March 17, 2011

    Hope everyone has been noticing the trends in the earth.
    Haiti-austrailia-Egypt-Lybia-Japna? Signs of the time.

    All the world leaders must be tired, or almost tired now…..too many for them, right

    People look up! The coming of the Lord is near. Please surrender your hearts to the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Yashua).
    Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.

  4. ?????
    March 17, 2011

    Where were the IAEA all these days the Japs have been struggling with this nuclear reactor problem? shame on them. :-D :-D :-D

  5. 4u2c
    March 17, 2011

    Lot fo Prayers for the people of Japan…they need it all!!

  6. Seriously Speaking
    March 17, 2011

    God be merciful…..

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