Countries Continue to Evacuate Nationals from Japan's Worst-hit Areas

While continuing to offer aid to Japan, many countries are also evacuating their citizens from the earthquake-stricken country or advising them to stay far away from the tsunami-scarred Fukushima nuclear power plant.

A magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck offshore Japan on March 11, creating a tsunami that swept over low-lying areas, carrying boats, cars and even buildings with it and destroying nearly everything in its path. More than 6,900 people are confirmed dead so far, and another 10,700 are missing.

The disaster also damaged the seaside Fukushima nuclear power plant, which remains in crisis as workers struggle under dangerous conditions to prevent a meltdown and major radiation leaks.

China on Friday continued to withdraw its nationals from the worst ravaged areas. A total of 6,000 Chinese nationals have already been evacuated from Japan by 5 p.m. Thursday (0800 GMT), Chinese diplomats said.

Among them, 1,400 were evacuated to Tokyo and 4,500 to Niigata, according to figures from the Chinese embassy in Japan.

The Chinese General Consulate in Niigata said that, with the help of the local government, they had managed to establish three settlements and provide necessities for the Chinese evacuees.

Meanwhile, China's domestic airlines planned to send six to eight additional flights to Niigata to bring back nationals.

The U.S. State Department on Thursday said the first evacuation flight carrying U.S. citizens has left Japan. Under Secretary of State Patrick Kennedy said another aircraft would be provided on Friday for evacuation.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry on Friday offered Swedes and other Scandinavians wishing to leave Japan two additional SAS planes which will send them to Bangkok.

"The first plane left Tokyo at 14:30 local time (0530 GMT) on Friday for Bangkok. The other will leave at 7 am local time on Saturday for Bangkok," a statement said.

Because of the limited flight capacity of the arranged planes, the travel cost will be paid by the passengers themselves, the statement said.

"There aren't many options for leaving. That's why we're helping with extra planes," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tobias Nilsson said.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry estimated that there are about 2,000 Swedes in Japan. It will readjust its evacuation measures according to needs, the statement said.

The Norwegian government has arranged two flights to bring its nationals home from Japan, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

The ministry said that the flights would take off from Tokyo's Haneda airport on Saturday morning. They would land shortly thereafter at the Kansai airport outside Osaka to pick up more passengers, and then fly directly to Oslo.

Those Norwegians who were willing to leave Japan would be taken home and citizens of other Nordic countries could also take the two flights if seats were available.

South Korea said Friday it will resort to "all means possible" to evacuate its nationals in Japan in case of a nuclear emergency.

The country will mobilize charter flights, military airplanes, patrol ships and warships for the emergency evacuation of South Koreans when necessary, the foreign ministry said.

The Indonesian government has devised several plans aimed to save its citizens from being harmed, a senior official said Friday.

"We have prepared several plans regarding the earthquake and tsunami disasters and ongoing radioactivity danger in Japan. But as of now, we would adjust our plans to save our citizens with emergency policies set by Japanese government," said Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Michael Tene.

Indonesia has 24,750 citizens in Japan at the moment, with around 502 staying in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima, the spokesman said.

"From citizens living in those three regions, 396 were confirmed safe with part of them have been evacuated to Indonesia through several flights from Tokyo," he said.