HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

March 17, 2011. A number of countries issue travel warnings for Japan in earthquake's aftermath

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

A number of foreign governments issued travel warnings for Japan in the aftermath of a major earthquake and tsunami, which killed an estimated 10,000 people and sparked a crisis at a nuclear power plant, reports indicated on March 16th. Countries cited aftershocks, infrastructure disruption, power outages, supply shortages, and radiation leaks as important concerns. The Australian government advised its citizen to consider leaving Tokyo and earthquake-affected areas. France, meanwhile, called on its nationals in Tokyo to leave the country or head south.The government mobilized two aircraft to assist with departures. China, meanwhile, became the first country to organize a mass evacuation in Japan, when it removed more than 3,000 Chinese nationals in Niigata. The United Kingdom and United States, however, called on their nationals to avoid all nonessential travel to Tokyo and northeastern Japan. The government of the Philippines called on its nationals to follow Japanese government directives and offered to defray evacuation costs. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), meanwhile, warned its nationals to avoid northeastern Japan, including Tokyo.