Yokosuka holds U.S. ship-linked radiation drill

YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa Pref. (Kyodo) A disaster drill was held here Monday to prepare for civilian evacuations in the event of a radiation leak from a nuclear-powered U.S. warship.

About 400 people, including Yokosuka municipal employees and elementary school students, took part in the drill to evacuate residents indoors.

Participants were guided into nearby buildings by firefighters, who shouted, "A nuclear accident has taken place."

City officials did not ask the U.S. Navy to participate even though Yokosuka is the home port of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington.

The navy has said even if a radiation leak occurs on a warship in the port, the areas that would need to evacuate would be within the base.

Japanese authorities held a similar drill in October assuming a fire aboard the George Washington, which was deployed to Yokosuka the month before. The U.S. and Japanese authorities held a joint drill in December based on a similar scenario.