Events surrounding the nuclear crisis in Japan are moving rapidly, as workers at a damaged nuclear power plant try to head off the threat of radiation poisoning – both to themselves and to people in the affected region.
All of that is taking place as the country simultaneously continues search-and-rescue efforts in the wake of the huge earthquake and resulting tsunami that tragically killed thousands and damaged the nuclear plant.
Tens of thousands of Japanese in the area near the plant were ordered to stay indoors Tuesday, and potentially dangerous amounts of radiation were released into the atmosphere from damaged reactors at the facility. Radiation levels reportedly fell significantly later in the day, to the relief of many, but the crisis was by no means over.
It is greatly hoped that the crisis will be limited in nature and will not become a repeat of the 1986 disaster at Chernobyl, in Soviet-controlled Ukraine, which killed dozens immediately and severely sickened many more.
The “silver lining” – if one can be found – is that Japan is a wealthy, highly technologically advanced nation. It is responding with all haste to the crisis, and the United States and other nations are providing assistance as well.
Amid the massive loss of life from Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, people of good will all over the world are earnestly hoping and praying that deadly nuclear catastrophe will not be added to Japan’s current woes.