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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| New UK rescue team flies to earthquake-hit Japan | New UK rescue team flies to earthquake-hit Japan |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A second UK search and rescue team has flown to Japan to help the aid effort after the huge earthquake and tsunami. | A second UK search and rescue team has flown to Japan to help the aid effort after the huge earthquake and tsunami. |
| Twelve volunteers from Scotland-based International Rescue Corps arrived in Tokyo on Monday night, from where they were to be deployed by the authorities. | Twelve volunteers from Scotland-based International Rescue Corps arrived in Tokyo on Monday night, from where they were to be deployed by the authorities. |
| The Foreign Office says it has "severe concerns" about a number of UK citizens but has not given any further details. | The Foreign Office says it has "severe concerns" about a number of UK citizens but has not given any further details. |
| Japanese officials say three blasts at a nuclear plant have led to radiation levels that can affect human health. | Japanese officials say three blasts at a nuclear plant have led to radiation levels that can affect human health. |
| Fukushima Daiichi plant, 250km (155 miles) north-east of Tokyo, was badly damaged in Friday's earthquake and tsunami, and the latest blast occurred on Tuesday morning. | Fukushima Daiichi plant, 250km (155 miles) north-east of Tokyo, was badly damaged in Friday's earthquake and tsunami, and the latest blast occurred on Tuesday morning. |
| The danger zone has been extended and residents within 30km (18 miles) are being told to evacuate or stay indoors. | The danger zone has been extended and residents within 30km (18 miles) are being told to evacuate or stay indoors. |
| The UK government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir John Beddington, said he believed the exclusion zone covered the right area. | The UK government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir John Beddington, said he believed the exclusion zone covered the right area. |
| "The height of the plume of the radioactive material is relatively modest, so it's going to be coming down relatively close to the reactor itself," he said. | "The height of the plume of the radioactive material is relatively modest, so it's going to be coming down relatively close to the reactor itself," he said. |
| "So a 20 to 30km exclusion zone that the Japanese... are setting in place, is entirely appropriate and proportionate to the risk." | "So a 20 to 30km exclusion zone that the Japanese... are setting in place, is entirely appropriate and proportionate to the risk." |
| The Foreign Office (FCO) has said there is no need for UK nationals to evacuate areas outside the current exclusion zone but it was keeping its advice under constant review. | The Foreign Office (FCO) has said there is no need for UK nationals to evacuate areas outside the current exclusion zone but it was keeping its advice under constant review. |
| Matthew, a British expatriate in Tokyo, says some companies are deciding whether to move the families of employees out of Tokyo or out of the country. | Matthew, a British expatriate in Tokyo, says some companies are deciding whether to move the families of employees out of Tokyo or out of the country. |
| "Other Brits are waiting to see if the FCO upgrades its advice to British nationals in Tokyo. Others are not waiting for official advice or for their companies to act and are simply putting families on the next flight out," he said. | "Other Brits are waiting to see if the FCO upgrades its advice to British nationals in Tokyo. Others are not waiting for official advice or for their companies to act and are simply putting families on the next flight out," he said. |
| "People are worried that some carriers have cancelled Tokyo flights due to radiation fears and that others may follow suit sooner or later making it difficult to leave even if the FCO does advise leaving." | "People are worried that some carriers have cancelled Tokyo flights due to radiation fears and that others may follow suit sooner or later making it difficult to leave even if the FCO does advise leaving." |
| 'Worst catastrophe' | 'Worst catastrophe' |
| The latest official death toll stands at about 2,400 - but some estimates suggest 10,000 may have been killed. | The latest official death toll stands at about 2,400 - but some estimates suggest 10,000 may have been killed. |
| Hundreds of thousands in the affected areas have been made homeless, while millions have been left without food, water and power. | |
| I'm walking through the city of Ofunato with the British search and rescue team. It's on a coastal cliff edge which cascades down towards the sea and the first time I saw the city, the houses, the businesses, it took my breath away. | |
| There are the buildings that crashed into each other, thousands of cars piled on top of each other, a ship that's sitting on one house. | |
| I'm on a High Street and there are teddy bears, a wallet with cards still in it, fish scattered all over the floor. It's such a bizarre sight. | |
| The search and rescue team say it's the biggest job they have ever had in terms of the scale of the damage. | |
| This is such a huge job for the search and rescue team. In the last few hours, they have not rescued anybody but they have recovered one body. | |
| British nationals are being asked to confirm their safety by contacting the FCO on +44 (0)20 7008 0000. That is also the helpline number for people concerned about friends and relatives in Japan. | British nationals are being asked to confirm their safety by contacting the FCO on +44 (0)20 7008 0000. That is also the helpline number for people concerned about friends and relatives in Japan. |
| The FCO is advising against all non-essential travel to Tokyo and the north-east of Japan. Most of the 17,000 Britons living in Japan are in Tokyo or Osaka. | The FCO is advising against all non-essential travel to Tokyo and the north-east of Japan. Most of the 17,000 Britons living in Japan are in Tokyo or Osaka. |
| The British ambassador and a team of consular staff are in Sendai, one of the cities closest to the epicentre of the earthquake. | The British ambassador and a team of consular staff are in Sendai, one of the cities closest to the epicentre of the earthquake. |
| They have been assessing the level of damage and gathering information about British nationals. Additional specialist UK consular teams have been sent to the country. | They have been assessing the level of damage and gathering information about British nationals. Additional specialist UK consular teams have been sent to the country. |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke to Japan's foreign minister, Takeaki Matsumoto, on Monday night in Paris, where G8 representatives are meeting. | Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke to Japan's foreign minister, Takeaki Matsumoto, on Monday night in Paris, where G8 representatives are meeting. |
| "I stressed... the importance of our embassy working with local authorities across Japan, because clearly we are very worried about British nationals who are not yet accounted for." | "I stressed... the importance of our embassy working with local authorities across Japan, because clearly we are very worried about British nationals who are not yet accounted for." |
| "Then there is longer-term work that we will do to assist Japan in the process of trying to recover from its worst catastrophe since 1945." | "Then there is longer-term work that we will do to assist Japan in the process of trying to recover from its worst catastrophe since 1945." |
| Nuclear programmes | Nuclear programmes |
| The International Rescue Corps (IRC) team, based in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire and funded by donations, was joined in Tokyo by two colleagues from New Zealand, taking the team's number to 14. | The International Rescue Corps (IRC) team, based in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire and funded by donations, was joined in Tokyo by two colleagues from New Zealand, taking the team's number to 14. |
| Although the team specialises in urban search and rescue - such as looking for survivors in collapsed buildings - it was thought more likely it would be put to work on the humanitarian effort to help survivors, said an IRC spokesman. | Although the team specialises in urban search and rescue - such as looking for survivors in collapsed buildings - it was thought more likely it would be put to work on the humanitarian effort to help survivors, said an IRC spokesman. |
| He said the team had worked with the Japanese people before, providing humanitarian help following the Kobe earthquake of 1995. | He said the team had worked with the Japanese people before, providing humanitarian help following the Kobe earthquake of 1995. |
| A 63-strong UK International Search and Rescue (Isar) team deployed by the Department for International Development is already in Japan. Its base is 20km (12 miles) outside Ofunato, one of the many coastal communities laid waste by the power of the tsunami. | A 63-strong UK International Search and Rescue (Isar) team deployed by the Department for International Development is already in Japan. Its base is 20km (12 miles) outside Ofunato, one of the many coastal communities laid waste by the power of the tsunami. |
| Comprising 59 search and rescue experts, four medics and two sniffer dogs, they are hunting for victims still alive who may be trapped in rubble and debris. | Comprising 59 search and rescue experts, four medics and two sniffer dogs, they are hunting for victims still alive who may be trapped in rubble and debris. |
| The nuclear emergency in Japan has sparked wider debate about the use of nuclear power, with the German and Swiss governments suspending decisions on their nuclear programmes. | The nuclear emergency in Japan has sparked wider debate about the use of nuclear power, with the German and Swiss governments suspending decisions on their nuclear programmes. |
| The government has asked the UK's Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr Mike Weightman, to report on the implications for British facilities. | The government has asked the UK's Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr Mike Weightman, to report on the implications for British facilities. |
| The European Commission is holding a meeting of ministers and experts on Tuesday to discuss the implications. | The European Commission is holding a meeting of ministers and experts on Tuesday to discuss the implications. |
| European stock markets fell sharply on Tuesday amid fears the earthquake may disrupt supply chains for global manufacturers. | |
| Japanese car markers Nissan and Honda said their UK operations in Sunderland and Swindon respectively were unaffected by the disaster. | Japanese car markers Nissan and Honda said their UK operations in Sunderland and Swindon respectively were unaffected by the disaster. |
| Are you concerned about relatives in Japan? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you concerned about relatives in Japan? Send us your comments using the form below. |