2 new quakes jolt Tokyo; Fukushima nuke plant on fire

Tokyo, Mar 16: Capital of Japan Tokyo experienced two fresh earthquakes. The new quakes rattled the country at the time when it continues its battle to over come the first shocks of Friday's (Mar 11) earthquake with 8.9 magnitude followed by massive tsunami and nuclear explosions.

The first quake hit the Fukushima nuclear power plant coast which is 200 miles (325 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo. The first quake with 6.2 in magnitude rocked Japan on Tuesday (Mar 15) night. Another temblor with 6.0-magnitude was felt at Shizuoka prefecture which is 55 miles (90 kilometers) southwest of Tokyo.

Meanwhile, trouble for Fukushima nuclear power plant increased as fire was seen at the reactor No 4 of the power plant till Wednesday (Mar 16) morning. However, the government officials denied the fire news at Fukushima. Though officials also expressed cautious - it was not yet clear that if the fire had died out.

Risks for the working people in the nuclear plant also increased as the cause of the fire was still unknown which is "too dangerous" for workers to get near the reactor.

Citing the improper handling of the whole nuclear issue, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) received a bash from Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Tuesday.

During his statement on local TVs, Kan expressed his rage at TEPCO as he chided, "What the hell is going on?"

Xinhua reported Kan had asked TEPCO not to withdraw its workers from the faltering power plant, saying that in the event of a withdrawal he was "100 percent sure the company would collapse."

After multiple explosion in the nuclear reactor in Fukushima, Japanese scientists have revealed that the radioactive levels have increased into worrying levels in the periphery.

Sources in French embassy in Tokyo has claimed that a low-level radioactive wind is spreading across Tokyo and would show its impact in a few hours from now. The French Embassy in Tokyo warned in an advisory that a low level of radioactive wind could reach the capital in about 10 hours.

While, the reactor meltdown could spell trouble for people living in the vicinity, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has already ordered the evacuation of people living in a 30km radius of the plant totalling to 140,000 people.

OneIndia News