Japan’s preparedness for earthquake, tsunami ‘not sufficient’
Posted March 29, 2011 4:48 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Japanese government promised to overhaul safety standards after admitting safeguards in place to protect their nuclear facilities against a tsunami and earthquake were grossly insufficient.
“Our preparedness was not sufficient,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said. “When the current crisis is over, we must examine the accident closely and thoroughly review safety standards.”
An Associated Press investigation states that Tokyo Electric Power Co. dismissed scientific and geological evidence that a devastating earthquake and subsequent was likely.
Tokyo Electric Power runs the Fukushima Daiichi complex that was crippled in the disaster.
Since the massive tsunami struck the nuclear plant earlier this month, there have been constant setbacks in an effort to prevent a full-scale meltdown.
Residents within a 20 km radius have been ordered to leave. Radiation leaks have been detected in food, milk and tap water as far away as Tokyo.
The combined disaster is estimated to have killed more than 18,000 people. So far more than 11,000 bodies have been recovered.
Officials estimate damage could reach $310 billion, which would make it the most expensive natural disaster in history.
With files from The Associated Press
