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Australian FM urges nationals to consider leaving Japan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-16 17:15

CANBERRA - Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday urged Australians who are in disaster- affected areas of Japan to consider leaving.

Over 10,000 people are expected to have lost their lives as a result of the deadly earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on Friday.

On Wednesday, Japan's nuclear crisis escalates with fire breaking out at No 4 reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo, raising fears of more radiation contamination.

Special coverage: Earthquake Hits Japan Related readings:  GE engineer quit 35 yrs ago over reactor design  Japan's nuke crisis might be next Chernobyl  Radiation leaps after Japan plant blasts

Rudd said in light of the developing nuclear crisis, all Australians in Tokyo and the affected areas should look to leave unless their presence is essential.

"If your presence is not essential, if you're in Tokyo or those eight affected prefectures, then you should consider leaving," he told ABC News on Wednesday.

"Where people depart to is a matter for them... but this is something they should consider if their presence in Japan is not absolutely essential."

Earlier on Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard confirmed that two members of an Australian search and rescue team have been exposed to low level radiation in Japan, and they are now safe and well.

According to Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT), the number of Australians unaccounted for in the country has dropped from 144 to 94, and there has been no report of Australian casualties.

Rudd has praised the work of consular staff on the ground, who face the grisly task of combing through morgues and hospitals to make sure the safety of Australians in the earthquake affected area.

"Our consular teams, and I just publicly acknowledge the great work they are doing together with other Australians on the ground in the affected prefectures," he said.

"They've been out and about, they've been going to hospitals, they've been going to emergency shelters.

"They've also been going through mortuaries to make sure that Australians are not there, or in the case of shelters etcetera, to identify Australians."

He said the scale of the disaster means it will take time before all Australians in Japan can be accounted for.