17 Mar 2011

Guam not at risk from Japan nuclear crisis, say officials

1:39 pm on 17 March 2011

Civil defence in Guam is assuring people that the nuclear crisis in Japan poses no threat to them.

Fears about the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan are intensifying, with latest reports saying one of the pools containing highly radioactive spent fuel rods has run dry.

A meteorologist in Guam has told the Pacific Daily News there is a very small risk that air from Japan could reach Guam within a week.

But Guam Homeland Security public information officer Alyssa Benito says they are monitoring wind patterns and air levels and do not believe there's a threat.

"In terms of radiation even if the wind shifts our way, all available information indicates that by the time it gets here, travelling 1500 miles to us it will disperse and we won't have any effect of radiation at all."

Alyssa Benito says they are not taking steps to prepare for nuclear radiation yet, but are meeting to discuss how agencies can help to monitor the air.