Japan thanks PHL for sympathy, assistance offers

Japan thanked Philippine agencies and groups for their messages of sympathy and offers of assistance following the magnitude-8.9 quake and tsunami that devastated it last weekend. The Japanese Embassy in the Philippines also urged prospective donors to send their donations to the Philippine Red Cross. "The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines expresses its sincere appreciation for the heartfelt messages of sympathies and for the many offers of assistance being extended to those who have suffered in the recent devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit in the Northeastern part of Japan," it said in a statement posted on its website. "The Government of Japan, together with the people of the affected region and the entire nation, is doing its utmost efforts to provide rapid emergency support and recovery in the region," it added. After being devastated by the quake and tsunami, Japan faces a possible nuclear emergency stemming from problems with its nuclear power plant in Fukushima. Early Tuesday, a fresh explosion rocked a stricken Japanese nuclear power plant and some workers were ordered to leave the site, a sign that the situation may be getting more serious at the complex that was damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami. The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi complex said radiation levels around the site immediately after the blast, the third there, were rising fast but still far from levels that local authorities say would cause large-scale radiation sickness. Authorities there are trying to prevent meltdowns in all three of the plant's nuclear reactors by flooding the chambers with sea water to cool them down. Authorities have earlier said that over 10,000 people are feared dead after the strong quake and tsunami that hit Japan. Donations Meanwhile, Japan urged those wishing to give donations to direct the aid through the Philippine Red Cross, as it presently has no integrated system to accept donations. "While no integrated system has been set up to accept donations in Japan at this moment, those wishing to kindly help through financial donations may direct the donations (to) The Philippine Red Cross -- Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami," it said. It said donations designated to the Japanese Red Cross will be directed to the Japanese Red Cross through the Philippine Red Cross. — with a report from Reuters/RSJ, GMA News