Japan official says scale of disasters overwhelmed government, slowed its response

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/japan-official-says-scale-of-disasters-overwhelmed-government-slowed-its-response/2011/03/17/AB2gabn_story_1.html

Japan official says scale of disasters overwhelmed government, slowed its response

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The Japanese government has been slow in releasing information on the crisis, even as the troubles have multiplied. In a country where the nuclear industry has a long history of hiding its safety problems, this has left many people, in Japan and among governments overseas, confused and anxious.

After meeting with Kan and other senior officials, the U.N.’s Amano complained that his agency had not been receiving critical information. He said, for instance, the IAEA wanted to know what kind of radioactive elements were being released but could not get the data.

“This kind of information is needed in a timely way, and we hope the Japanese government will provide it. We hope everything will be better,” Amano told reporters.

At times, Japan and the U.S. — two very close allies — have offered starkly differing assessments over the dangers at Fukushima. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jazcko said Thursday that it could take days and “possibly weeks” to get the complex under control. He defended the U.S. decision to recommend a 50-mile (80-kilometer) evacuation zone for its citizens, wider than the 12-mile (20-kilometer) band Japan has ordered.

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[GliderGuider]

1. It took them some time to find the word "truth" in the dictionary. n/t