Japanese authorities have confirmed there was an explosion at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant on March 12 but it did not occur at its troubled No. 1 reactor, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano has said.
Yukio Edano told an urgent press briefing the same day that the operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., confirmed there is no damage to the steel container housing the reactor, according to Kyodo News.
On the same day, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan directed relevant agencies to evacuate people from the Fukushima No. 1 and 2 within a radius of 20 km, instead of 10 km as before.
In his speech broadcasted on television, PM Kan affirmed that the government will “make all-out efforts” to rescue the victims.
He also called on Japanese people to support the efforts made by the government and relevant agencies in restoring the aftermaths of the unprecedented national disaster.
Kan said his government will increase the number of soldiers of the Self Defence Force to join rescue team from 20,000 to 50,000.
Social networks, such as Twitter and Google, are considered the most effective tools in finding loved ones than sifting through wreckage following Japan's devastating tsunami.
About 45,000 messages were left to seek information on friends and family members on Google search.
According to the latest report, the death toll may reach 1,700 in Japan after the 8.9 magnitude quake and tsunami hit its northeast region./.
