Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Japanese Emperor Akihito has addressed the nation, expressing his condolences for victims of the massive earthquake and tsunami and telling the nation not to give up.
Japan's Emperor Akihito expressed his condolences today to victims of his country's massive earthquake and tsunami and told the Japanese people not to give up.
Speaking on TV in a rare address to nation, he also voiced concern about the crisis at a nuclear power plant damaged by the disasters that has led to radiation leakage.
"I am deeply concerned about the nuclear situation because it is unpredictable," he said. "With the help of those involved I hope things will not get worse."
Friday's quake-spawned tsunami has devastated Japan's northeastern coast, and officials believe more than 10,000 people have died.
Akihito, 77, thanked those involved in disaster relief operations, including foreign governments, and urged an all-out rescue effort.
"We don't know the number of victims, but I pray that every single person can be saved," he said.
Japan faced a worsening nuclear crisis after authorities on Wednesday ordered emergency workers to withdraw from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant amid a surge in radiation, temporarily suspending efforts to cool the facility's overheating reactors.
Radiation levels fell later today, but it was not immediately clear if the workers had been allowed back in, or how far away they had withdrawn. The workers at the forefront of the fight — a core team of 70 — had been regularly rotated in and out of the danger zone to minimize their radiation exposure.
Meanwhile, officials in Ibaraki prefecture, just south of Fukushima, said radiation levels were about 300 times normal levels by late morning. While those levels are unhealthy for prolonged periods, they are far from fatal.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments