BREAKING!!! China is first to evacuate citizens from Japan

China's embassy in Japan today called for an orderly evacuation of Chinese nationals from the areas worst hit by the earthquake, tsunami and damage to nuclear reactors, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reports.

The embassy was organizing the evacuation "due to the seriousness of and uncertainty surrounding the accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant at present," Xinhua says.

"We hope our compatriots in the worst-hit disaster areas remain calm, listen to instructions, understand and cooperate with the evacuation operation," the embassy said.

China's Ministry of Commerce said there are more than 22,000 of its citizens in the affected areas. A complete evacuation could take time due to a lack of transport and gas, Xinhua said. China's embassy in Japan is organizing the operation.

The Associated Press reports that Austria is moving its embassy from Tokyo to Osaka, 250 miles away, due to radiation concerns. France recommended that its citizens leave the Japanese capital, while the U.S. government advised Americans to avoid travel to Japan.
[link to content.usatoday.com]