Snap shot: Developments after major Japan earthquake

Following are main developments after an 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck northeast Japan on Friday and set off a tsunami.

- More than 1,800 people likely dead or missing from the quake and tsunami, Kyodo news agency says.

- Kyodo reports 10,000 people in one town unreachable.

* Radiation leaks from a damaged nuclear plant and explosion blows off the roof, but authorities say radiation levels now lessening.

* Around 110,000 evacuated from 20 km (12 mile) radius around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, another 30,000 from 10 km (6 mile) radius around nearby Fukushima Daini plant.

* Up to 160 people may have been exposed to radiation, nuclear safety agency says.

- Nuclear safety agency rates the incident a 4 on the 1 to 7 International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale, less serious than Three Mile Island, which was a 5, and Chernobyl at 7.

- TEPCO plans to fill the leaking reactor with sea water to cool it down and reduce pressure in the unit, Edano says.

- Kyodo says 300,000 people evacuated, 5.5 million without power.

- Quake triggers tsunami up to 10 meters (30 feet), with waves sweeping away homes, crops, vehicles and submerging farmland.

- Bank of Japan will hold policy meeting on Monday and announce decision on same day. The central bank vows to do utmost to ensure financial market stability.

- Toyota Motor Co says it will suspend operations at all 12 factories on Monday.

- Total insured loss could be up to $15 billion, equity analysts covering the industry say.

 

Category: Society