Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Sunday that the country is experiencing its greatest hardships since World War II and warned the nuclear crisis and the closing of several nuclear reactors may result in a shortfall in electricity supply.
It is said that the east of the country is likely to face substantial shortages. The supply of electricity were limited to people in the north-east areas, which were worst hit by the earthquake and tsunami. However, the government is trying to secure some support electricity from other facilities.
A programme of rolling power cuts is expected from Monday, which would also affect water and gas supplies and some medical facilities.
Kan said that the situation at the Fukushima nuclear plant remained grave after the explosion. The shutting down of the plant and other power stations has resulted in limited electricity supplies.
A Japanese government official has warned that a second explosion is likely to occur at the plant. It is said that technicians are now trying to cool reactor 3.
It is reportedly said that nearly 170,000 people have been evacuated from a 20km (12.4 miles) area around the plant. Japanese Prime Minister has also planned to double the number of Self Defense Forces personnel sent to quake-hit areas to 100,000.
The Chinese Foreign ministry has said that there were no reports of Chinese casualties in Japan's earthquake and tsunami.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
May 08, 2026 15:50 ET Manufacturing and services sector survey results and labor market data from main economies were the highlight on the economics news front this week. Factory orders and jobs report dominated the news flow in the U.S. Similarly, industrial production data from German garnered attention in Europe. In Asia, purchasing managers’ survey results from China and the central bank decision from Australia were in focus.