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Britons in Japan offered flights to Hong Kong Britons in Japan offered flights to Hong Kong
(about 2 hours later)
The government is chartering planes to fly from Tokyo to Hong Kong to help Britons who want to leave Japan.The government is chartering planes to fly from Tokyo to Hong Kong to help Britons who want to leave Japan.
The Foreign Office said there would be no charge for Britons "directly affected" by the tsunami. A charge of £600 will otherwise apply.The Foreign Office said there would be no charge for Britons "directly affected" by the tsunami. A charge of £600 will otherwise apply.
A statement said: "We continue to advise against all non essential travel to Tokyo and north eastern Japan. A statement said: "We continue to advise against all non-essential travel to Tokyo and north-eastern Japan.
"British nationals currently in Tokyo and to the north of Tokyo should consider leaving the area.""British nationals currently in Tokyo and to the north of Tokyo should consider leaving the area."
Japan's east coast has been devastated by a tsunami which followed an earthquake last Friday.Japan's east coast has been devastated by a tsunami which followed an earthquake last Friday.
Power cuts Coach laid on
The damage has been compounded by fears of a radiation leak after several reactors at a nuclear power station at Fukushima overheated. There are also power cuts and water shortages, making life very uncomfortable for expats and local people alike.
There are also power cuts and water shortages, making life very uncomfortable for expats and residents alike.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The UK government is chartering flights from Tokyo to Hong Kong to supplement commercially available options for those wishing to leave Japan.A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The UK government is chartering flights from Tokyo to Hong Kong to supplement commercially available options for those wishing to leave Japan.
"The first option for leaving Japan should remain commercial routes. Commercial flights continue to operate to and from Japan. British nationals with commercial flight bookings should continue to use these flights and you should continue to make reservation and other arrangements with your airline as usual. "The first option for leaving Japan should remain commercial routes. Commercial flights continue to operate to and from Japan. British nationals with commercial flight bookings should continue to use these flights and you should continue to make reservations and other arrangements with your airline as usual.
"If you wish to leave and cannot secure tickets for a commercial flight, you can register your interest in using our charter option to leave Japan by calling 44 20 7008 6900.""If you wish to leave and cannot secure tickets for a commercial flight, you can register your interest in using our charter option to leave Japan by calling 44 20 7008 6900."
The British embassy has also organised a coach to take Britons from Sendai to Tokyo.
British rescuers are still working to find survivors and the bodies of the dead in the Tohoku region.
One of the rescuers, Alan Downes, said: "We've seen total devastation in the areas affected. It's so significant, I struggle to comprehend how any community can move on from it.
"But people here are getting on and dealing with what's put in front of them."
Around 17,000 British nationals were believed to be in Japan last Friday but there have been no reports yet of fatalities.
London's FTSE 100 index fell 1.7% on Wednesday amid fears of the economic impact of the disaster.