Nuclear Crisis in Japan

In the aftermath of the monstrous tsunami in Japan, the Fukushima nuclear power plant has been in turmoil. There have been various fires within the plant since the tsunami's impact. The water pumps within the plant are not working, causing the pipes to overheat. The current disaster rating at the plant is a 5 out of 7. Firefighters are struggling to contain the fires. They can only be inside the plant's buildings for a certain amount of time due to the severely high radiation levels.

Planes cannot be used to fight the fires due to radiation in the air. Over 200,000 people have been evacuated to avoid excessive exposure to radiation. These residents live within 20 kilometers of the plant. For people on the outskirts of this area, it is recommended that they remain inside as much as possible.

Displaced families are greatly suffering. There is a great shortage of food, water, and adequate shelter in the country. Organizations such as the Red Cross are trying to provide aide to Japanese citizens. There are also fundraising efforts underway by companies such as Apple. The disaster in Japan is causing other countries, such as the U.S., to inspect the structure and safety of their own nuclear power plants.