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Japan raises nuclear alert level Japan raises nuclear alert level
(40 minutes later)
Japan has raised the alert level at a stricken nuclear plant from four to five on a seven-point international scale for atomic accidents. Japan has raised the alert level at a stricken nuclear plant from four to five on a seven-point international scale for atomic incidents.
The crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi site is now two levels below Ukraine's 1986 Chernobyl disaster.The crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi site is now two levels below Ukraine's 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog warned in Tokyo the battle to stabilise the plant was a race against time.The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog warned in Tokyo the battle to stabilise the plant was a race against time.
The crisis was prompted by last week's huge quake and tsunami, which left more than 16,000 people dead or missing.The crisis was prompted by last week's huge quake and tsunami, which left more than 16,000 people dead or missing.
The Japanese nuclear agency's decision to raise the alert level to five grades Fukushima's as an "accident with wider consequences".The Japanese nuclear agency's decision to raise the alert level to five grades Fukushima's as an "accident with wider consequences".
It also places the situation there on a par with 1979's Three Mile Island nuclear accident in the US.It also places the situation there on a par with 1979's Three Mile Island nuclear accident in the US.
Meanwhile, further heavy snowfall overnight brought more misery to survivors of the 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami, all but ending hopes of finding anyone else alive in the rubble.Meanwhile, further heavy snowfall overnight brought more misery to survivors of the 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami, all but ending hopes of finding anyone else alive in the rubble.
According to the latest figures, 6,405 people are confirmed dead and about 10,200 are listed missing.According to the latest figures, 6,405 people are confirmed dead and about 10,200 are listed missing.
On Friday, people across Japan observed a minute's silence at 1446 (0546 GMT), exactly one week after the disaster.On Friday, people across Japan observed a minute's silence at 1446 (0546 GMT), exactly one week after the disaster.
As the country paused to remember, relief workers toiling in the ruins bowed their heads, while elderly survivors in evacuation centres wept.As the country paused to remember, relief workers toiling in the ruins bowed their heads, while elderly survivors in evacuation centres wept.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, arrived in Tokyo and said the Fukushima crisis was a "race against the clock".The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, arrived in Tokyo and said the Fukushima crisis was a "race against the clock".
Japan's upgrading of the Fukushima incident from severity four to five stems from concerns about the reactors in buildings 1, 2 and 3, rather than the cooling ponds storing spent fuel.
Level five is defined as an "accident with wider consequences". This was the level given to the 1957 reactor fire at Windscale in the UK and the partial meltdown of the Three Mile Island plant in the US in 1979.
Both met the level five definition of "limited release" of radioactive materials to the wider environment.
Windscale is believed to have caused about 200 cases of cancer, whereas reports into the Three Mile Island incident suggest there were no health impacts outside the site.
French and US officials had previously said the Fukushima situation was more serious than Japanese evaluations suggested.
Higher radiation levels than normal have been recorded in a few places 30km from the site, but in Tokyo, they were reported to be normal.
"This is not something that just Japan should deal with, and people of the entire world should co-operate with Japan and the people in the disaster areas," said Mr Amano, a Japanese citizen."This is not something that just Japan should deal with, and people of the entire world should co-operate with Japan and the people in the disaster areas," said Mr Amano, a Japanese citizen.
He said he would not visit the Fukushima Daiichi site on his current trip to the country. He said he would not visit the Fukushima Daiichi site, which has been rocked by a series of explosions, on his current trip to the country.
His four-member team of nuclear experts would start by monitoring radiation in the capital, he said, before moving to the vicinity of the quake-hit facility, reports Kyodo news agency.His four-member team of nuclear experts would start by monitoring radiation in the capital, he said, before moving to the vicinity of the quake-hit facility, reports Kyodo news agency.
Military fire trucks have been spraying the plant's overheating reactor units for a second day.Military fire trucks have been spraying the plant's overheating reactor units for a second day.
Water in at least one fuel pool - in reactor 3 - is believed to be dangerously low, exposing the stored fuel rods.Water in at least one fuel pool - in reactor 3 - is believed to be dangerously low, exposing the stored fuel rods.
If the ponds run dry, a nuclear chain reaction could release more radiation into the atmosphere.If the ponds run dry, a nuclear chain reaction could release more radiation into the atmosphere.
An electricity line has been bulldozed through to the site and engineers are racing to connect it, but they are being hampered by radiation.An electricity line has been bulldozed through to the site and engineers are racing to connect it, but they are being hampered by radiation.
The plant's operators need the power cable to restart water pumps that pour cold water on the fuel rods. The plant's operators need the power cable to restart water pumps that pour cold water on the reactor units.
Military helicopters which dropped water from above on Thursday have been kept on standby.Military helicopters which dropped water from above on Thursday have been kept on standby.
Televised footage of the airdrops had shown much of the water blowing away in the wind.Televised footage of the airdrops had shown much of the water blowing away in the wind.
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