EU official: Japan catastrophe looming
Situation at Japanese nuclear reactor hit in disaster 'effectively out of control,' European energy commissioner says. 'In the coming hours there could be further catastrophic events,' he said
“In the coming hours there could be further catastrophic events which could pose a threat to the lives of people on the island,” energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger told a European Parliament committee, one day after he said Japan was facing “apocalypse.”
“The site is effectively out of control,” he said.
Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Yukiya Amano plans to go to Japan as soon as possible, saying he hoped to leave Thursday.
Amano will meet with senior officials and stay one night, saying Wednesday he hopes to come back with "firsthand information" on the situation and address the issue of improving the flow of information to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Amano earlier urged the Japanese government to provide better information to the agency about the nuclear crisis.
Bibi offers Israeli aid
Also Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered Israel's help to his Japanese counterpart.
The PM expressed his willingness to send rescue and medical teams to the disaster zone, as well as water-purifying devices.
"Israel's citizens are standing by you at this difficult hour," Netanyahu said.
Meanwhile, as the crisis worsens, more governments were advising their citizens to leave Tokyo.
Australia and Germany advised their citizens in Japan on Wednesday to consider leaving Tokyo and earthquake-affected areas, joining a growing number of governments and businesses telling their people it may be safer elsewhere.
AFP, Reuters, Attila Somfalvi and AP contributed to the story
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