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April 12, 2011. Fukushima Daiichi crisis reaches maximum level; plant evacuated after aftershock

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

Japanese officials raised the severity rating of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crisis to the highest level - a seven, a level previously only applied to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, where 10 times as much radiation was emitted, a spokesperson for the Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety said on April 12th. Officials said the decision "doesn't mean people's safety is in danger" and reflects the total release of radiation rather than a sudden deterioration at the plant. In a press conference, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said radiation leaks at facility were declining and that the operating company would soon provide a schedule for returning it to normal.

In other news, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake on April 12th forced officials to temporarily evacuate the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant for the second time in two days, reports indicated. The company operating the plant said it was checking the status of the plant in the earthquake's aftermath, with no immediate reports of problems with the external power used to run cooling systems. On April 11th, a 6.6-magnitude aftershock caused some damages and at least three deaths in Fukushima prefecture's Iwaki city by triggering a landslide.The two earthquakes are believed to be aftershocks of the March 11th 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that killed 13,228 people, left 14,529 missing, and made more than 150,000 people homeless.