TRAVEL ALERT: State Dept Advises Americans to Avoid Travel to Japan

Courtesy of the U.S. State Department.

By Sonia Isotov

In the aftermath of the tsunami event in Japan, U.S. citizens are being urged by the U.S. State Department to avoid traveling to Japan at this time.

Due to the likelihood of further aftershocks, tsunamis, the evacuation of areas near nuclear power facilities in Fukushima, and planned power outages, in a statement today, the Department of State requested that all non-emergency official U.S. government personnel avoid travel to Japan.

The State Department mentioned in their statement that temporary shortages of water and food supplies may occur in affected areas of Japan due to power and transportation disruptions, and due to the continuing possibility of strong aftershocks, Japan remains at risk for further tsunamis. 

Japanese authorities have also told the State Department that the situation remains serious at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Okumacho. The Japan Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency is evacuating people who live within 20 kilometers of the nuclear plant.

This Travel Alert expires on April 1, 2011. 

Japan earthquake and tsunami map. Courtesy of the U.S. State Dept.