Japanese prime minister Naoto Kan has appealed to the Japanese people to unite in overcoming what he says is the country’s worst crisis since the Second World War.
Mr Kan said in a televised address today that the nation’s future will be decided by the choices made by each Japanese person, and urged everyone to join in their determination to rebuild the nation following a massive earthquake and tsunami.
"The earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear incident have been the biggest crisis Japan has encountered in the 65 years since the end of World War II," he said.
"We're under scrutiny on whether we, the Japanese people, can overcome this crisis."
Mr Kan also warned of sweeping power cuts to come.
He said the situation at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant remained grave, a day after an explosion at a reactor.
PA