Japan Airlines is offering to fly rescue workers free of charge to help relief efforts following Friday’s earthquake and tsunami.
The move came as a third explosion occurred at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant about 155 miles north-east of Tokyo in the early hours of Tuesday local time causing radiation levels to rise in the surrounding area.
The government ordered any inhabitants remaining in the 12-mile radius exclusion zone to leave immediately. The prime minister, Naoto Kan, has warned there is a very high risk of further radioactive material being released.
There are up to 17,000 British nationals working in the country at the moment and many are still missing, according to reports. Staff at the Foreign Office have fielded nearly 5,000 calls about missing British citizens.
JAL said it was supporting the rescue and recovery process by providing free transport of relief goods and for aid personnel, as well as through a mileage donation drive to raise funds to help victims of the disaster.
JAL will transport relief goods and supplies at no charge from until April 15 on its domestic and international network.
The international airports to which relief supplies can be transported to are Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, Chubu in Nagoya and Kansai in Osaka.
JAL is offering to transport rescue team members for no charge at the request of the Japanese government and regional authorities.
“Personnel will be transported to and from Aomori, Akita, Misawa, Yamagata and Niigata while transport to Hanamaki airport may later be possible depending on the situation at the airport,” the airline said.