They have diarrhea, a fever, red skin and a high white blood cell count. All are symptoms of radiation sickness. Thirty nine people were exposed to radiation and about 150 people were evacuated. More than 300-thousand people living near the plant are being told to stay indoors. Schools are shut, major highways leading into the town are closed, and electronic billboards on smaller roads tell motorists to drive through as quickly as possible.
Japan relies heavily on nuclear power because it is poor in natural resources.
Yet environmentalists say the nuclear industry here has no culture of safety. The accident is the latest in a series of mishaps that continue to plague the nuclear industry. The latest occurred in July 1999. Tokaimura complex has been the scene of several accidents in recent years. This accident has caused the most serious injury ever and has the potential to harm the largest number of people.