Air

It's so strange, I just woke up about a half hour ago, around 3:30 AM. I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd check the news on Japan. My heart sank...

"Japan's nuclear crisis deepened dramatically Tuesday. As safety officials sought desperately to avert catastrophe, the government said radioactive material leaking from reactors was enough to "impact human health" and the risk of more leaks was "very high."

In a nationally televised statement, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that radiation has spread from four reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Fukushima province that was one of the hardest-hit in Friday's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami.

He urged anyone within 19 miles (30 kilometers) of the plant to stay indoors or risk getting radiation sickness. "The level seems very high, and there is still a very high risk of more radiation coming out," Kan said. "Now we are talking about levels that can damage human health. These are readings taken near the area where we believe the releases are happening. Far away, the levels should be lower," he said.

"Please do not go outside. Please stay indoors. Please close windows and make your homes airtight. Don't turn on ventilators. Please hang on your laundry indoors," he said. "These are figures that potentially affect health, there is no mistake about that," he said.

Japanese officials had previously said radiation levels at the plant were within safe limits, and international scientists said that while there were serious dangers, there was little risk of a catastrophe like Chernobyl in Ukraine, where the reactor exploded and released a radiation cloud over much of Europe.

Japanese authorities have been injecting seawater as a coolant of last resort, and advising nearby residents to stay inside to avoid contamination.

"It's like a horror movie," said 49-year-old Kyoko Nambu as she stood on a hillside overlooking her ruined hometown of Soma, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the plant. "Our house is gone and now they are telling us to stay indoors."

"We can see the damage to our houses, but radiation? ... We have no idea what is happening. I am so scared.""

I wish I could do something, my heart has been aching so, so much for Japan. I've never felt so lucky right now, to have good air. I'm able to leave my apartment window open to keep a breeze, and I know this air won't hurt me.

My heart goes out to all those in Japan, they are SO strong, DON'T GIVE UP! がんばれ、日本！I love you.