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14/03/2011
UK Advise 'Avoid Japan Visits' After Quake
Following the earthquake in Japan, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is advising against all non-essential travel to Tokyo and the North East of Japan.
The quake, which took place on Friday on 11 March, measured a massive 8.9 on the Richter scale and triggered a tsunami. So far there have not been any confirmed UK deaths.
In Ofunato 73 bodies have been recovered, 7,545 people have been evacuated and at least 58 people missing.
British nationals in Japan are being encouraged to contact the Foreign Office both if they require assistance and to report that they are safe.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have urged Britons currently in Japan to contact family and friends in the UK to confirm their well-being at the earliest opportunity.
Family and friends in the UK are also advised to report the whereabouts of loved ones who are missing or are known to be safe.
Currently embassy staff and British volunteers are helping to get information to UK citizens about the situation, while working closely with Japanese officials. Embassy response teams at Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports are assisting British nationals and liaising with airlines.
The British Embassy is focused on assisting British nationals in the affected area in north east Japan.
Those wishing to leave Japan are being told to contact their airline operator to check for details of flight times.
The British Ambassador and a team of consular staff are in Sendai to assess the level of damage and to help locate British nationals. They are also visiting evacuation centres and hospitals.
Specialist UK consular teams have now arrived in Japan from London. 45 additional consular staff are being deployed with more teams on standby.
A dedicated crisis unit has been established in the Foreign Office and DFID have activated their humanitarian operations room. The British Embassy in Tokyo and Consulate in Osaka have been working around the clock.
The situation at nuclear facilities is being monitored and British nationals are being urged to observe the advice being given by Japanese authorities, including the 20km exclusion zone around the Fukushima facility. This is consistent with the severity of the reported incident, with the independent information given, and with international practice.
Advice from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office is said to be under constant review, taking into account statements from the Japanese authorities and informed by independent UK scientific and health experts.
(BMcN/GK)
The quake, which took place on Friday on 11 March, measured a massive 8.9 on the Richter scale and triggered a tsunami. So far there have not been any confirmed UK deaths.
In Ofunato 73 bodies have been recovered, 7,545 people have been evacuated and at least 58 people missing.
British nationals in Japan are being encouraged to contact the Foreign Office both if they require assistance and to report that they are safe.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have urged Britons currently in Japan to contact family and friends in the UK to confirm their well-being at the earliest opportunity.
Family and friends in the UK are also advised to report the whereabouts of loved ones who are missing or are known to be safe.
Currently embassy staff and British volunteers are helping to get information to UK citizens about the situation, while working closely with Japanese officials. Embassy response teams at Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports are assisting British nationals and liaising with airlines.
The British Embassy is focused on assisting British nationals in the affected area in north east Japan.
Those wishing to leave Japan are being told to contact their airline operator to check for details of flight times.
The British Ambassador and a team of consular staff are in Sendai to assess the level of damage and to help locate British nationals. They are also visiting evacuation centres and hospitals.
Specialist UK consular teams have now arrived in Japan from London. 45 additional consular staff are being deployed with more teams on standby.
A dedicated crisis unit has been established in the Foreign Office and DFID have activated their humanitarian operations room. The British Embassy in Tokyo and Consulate in Osaka have been working around the clock.
The situation at nuclear facilities is being monitored and British nationals are being urged to observe the advice being given by Japanese authorities, including the 20km exclusion zone around the Fukushima facility. This is consistent with the severity of the reported incident, with the independent information given, and with international practice.
Advice from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office is said to be under constant review, taking into account statements from the Japanese authorities and informed by independent UK scientific and health experts.
(BMcN/GK)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A generally dry and bright day with some sunny spells. However, thicker cloud could give patchy rain at first near North Channel coasts, perhaps the odd shower breaking out in the west later in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 16 °C.Tonight:Any showers in the west soon dying out, dry for most with some clear spells. Showery outbreaks of rain could develop across parts of the south overnight. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
