U.S. issues travel warning for Japan
The U.S. State Departmenturged American citizens on Sunday to avoid going to Japanbecause of the powerful earthquake that damaged the Fukushimanuclear power reactors.
* Temporary shortages of water and food
* Evacuation of area near damaged nuclear reactors
* Many roads reported damaged
(Adds new details)
By James Vicini
WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department
urged American citizens on Sunday to avoid going to Japan
because of the powerful earthquake that damaged the Fukushima
nuclear power reactors.
In a travel warning the department said it had requested
all nonessential U.S. government personnel to defer travel and
urged American citizens to avoid tourism and non-essentialtravel to Japan.
It said that strong aftershocks were likely for weeks after
the 8.9 magnitude one that struck northern Japan two days ago,
and that Japan remained at risk for further tsunamis from
aftershocks. People have been told to stay away from low-lying
coastal areas.
Temporary water and food shortages may occur in affected
areas due to power and transportation disruptions, the
department said in giving updated details. Telephone services
have also been disrupted in some areas.
Rolling power outages are scheduled for the Tokyo
metropolitan area and in northern and central Honshu, the State
Department said.
U.S. citizens living or traveling in Fukushima prefecture
were advised to follow the local instructions and evacuate the
area immediately because of the damaged nuclear reactors.
The department said flights have resumed at all airports
closed by the earthquake, except Sendai, Sado, Iwate-Hanamaki,
and Misawa Airports.
In Tokyo, most public transportation including trains and
subways was operating, it said.
But many roads have been damaged in the Tokyo area and in
northern Japan. In the far-northern Iwate prefecture, toll road
highways are restricted to emergency vehicles only, it said.
In the Miyagi prefecture, government checkpoints have been
established on damaged roadways.
(Editing by Eric Beech and Jackie Frank)
No comments:
Post a Comment