A panel of experts has urged the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company to seek more information about how the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant occurred.
The panel on Monday submitted a report on its investigation into the accident to the governor of Niigata Prefecture, which is adjacent to Fukushima Prefecture and hosts TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant.
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has pledged continued support for "hibakusha," or survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing, following an appeal by the city and prefecture of Hiroshima of a ruling on so-called "black rain."
Last month a district court in Hiroshima recognized people who were exposed to the radioactive rain immediately after the bombing as "hibakusha."
Torrential rains are swamping parts of Japan. The extreme wet weather has moved into the central and eastern part of the country, after causing widespread damage in the southwestern region of Kyushu. More than 55 people have died, and over 15 others are missing.
The Meteorological Agency has switched a heavy rain emergency warning for Gifu and Nagano prefectures to a warning. But officials are telling residents to stay vigilant as the water is still rising in local rivers.
The heavy rain that's been swamping the southwestern region of Kyushu has now extended into the central and eastern part of the country. The Meteorological Agency has switched a heavy rain emergency warning for Gifu and Nagano prefectures to a warning. But officials are telling residents to continue to watch out as the water is still rising in local rivers.
The areas are experiencing rainfall that hasn't been seen in several decades. Officials say the average rainfall for the month of July has already been exceeded.
In Japan's southwestern region of Kyushu, the heavy rainfall is now being blamed for the deaths of more than 50 people.
Weather officials have switched a heavy rain emergency warning issued for Fukuoka, Saga and Nagasaki prefectures to a warning.
The intense rain in Japan's southwestern region of Kyushu is leaving dozens of people dead. Weather officials have switched a heavy rain emergency warning issued for Fukuoka, Saga and Nagasaki prefectures to a warning. But they're asking people to remain on alert for landslides and rivers spilling over their banks.
Officials say Chikugo River overflowed in Hita City in Oita Prefecture on Tuesday morning. Residents are being asked to monitor evacuation information and secure their safety in case of a possible disaster. Further flooding may occur in several cities along the river.
Torrential rains have been pounding Japan's southwestern region of Kyushu over the last four days. Dozens of people have been confirmed dead as the search for the missing continues.
Weather and land officials are asking people to remain on alert for flooding and landslides.
Japanese health experts say the new coronavirus continued to spread on the cruise ship Diamond Princess even after the passengers were told to stay in their cabins as a quarantine measure.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases reported this on its English website on Wednesday.