Yokosuka City prepares against possible radioactive leak from U.S. warships

Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture on August 20 held a drill for protecting residents against possible radioactive leaks from U.S. warships in the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base. Yokosuka Port, which is at the mouth of Tokyo Bay, has served as a homeport of the U.S. 7th Fleet for nearly two decades.

The city's administrative units, medical institutions, and neighborhood councils took part in the drill, but the U.S. Navy was absent. "The U.S. Navy normally agrees to take part in natural disaster drills but refuses to cooperate with us when it comes to one that deals with nuclear power," said Marushige Katsuyoshi from the City Fire Station.

Japanese Communist Party members of the Yokosuka City Assembly, who have demanded that the city take measures to prevent disasters caused by such accidents, monitored the exercise.

Negishi Mineo of the JCP pointed out that the U.S. military should have participated in the drill because in order for the city to effectively deal with the situation, it must get accurate information from the U.S. Navy. He said, "We must prevent nuclear submarines from entering Yokosuka Port as the most effective measure to prevent such accidents." (end)