U.S. government deploys two nuclear experts to Japan

U.S. government deploys two nuclear experts to Japan

2011-03-13 12:50:50 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Saturday sent two nuclear experts to quake-hit Japan where two nuclear power plants are in a state of emergency.

The deployment comes hours after the NRC had spoken with the agency's counterpart in Japan, offering the assistance of U.S. technical experts. They both have extensive background in boiling-water reactors.

"We have some of the most expert people in this field in the world working for the NRC and we stand ready to assist in any way possible," said NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko.

The NRC has stood up its Maryland-based headquarters Operations Center since the beginning of the emergency in Japan, and is operating on a 24-hour basis. There is no radiation threat to the United States, however.

Earlier on Saturday, an explosion rocked the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan, but the critical reactor container was not seriously damaged. Radiation coming from the plant has been described as low, posing a minimal threat.

The emergency situations at the nuclear power plants are the result of a great 9.0-magnitude earthquake that shook Japan on Friday afternoon. It unleashed giant tsunamis that slammed into the coastlines of Japan, killing more than 900 people and leaving thousands more missing. The tsunamis also killed two other people in Indonesia and the U.S. state of California, both whom were swept out to sea.

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