Japan's neighbors alarmed over risk of radiation threat

[AsahinaKimi]

(Reuters) - Japan's neighbors sounded increasingly alarmed over the risk of radiation from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, while figures showed the number of foreign visitors to the country had slumped during what should be the peak tourism season.

The world's worst nuclear disaster in 25 years is also raising concerns over safety in the United States, which has more atomic reactors than any other country, especially at one plant which is similar to the one in Fukushima wrecked by last month's 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami.

Engineers, who sealed a leak this week that had allowed highly radioactive water into the sea, are now pumping nitrogen into one reactor to prevent the risk of a hydrogen gas explosion.

Operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) (9501.T) said the chances of a repeat of the gas explosions that ripped through two reactors in the first days of the disaster were "extremely small."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/07/us-japan-fortimeline-aprilseven-idUSTRE7363D620110407