The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on April 12 decided to raise the severity level of the accident at the power plant to 7, the highest in history, on an international scale from the current 5.

This decision was made in connection with the unprecedentedly huge leakage of radioactive materials inside the country due to the killer quake on March 11, the Kyodo News reported.

International concern about it is increasing.

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at a press conference urged Japan to quickly and accurately inform various countries of the world of the leakage of radioactive materials.

The New York Times pointed out that the Japanese government's reaction to the nuclear crisis was slow. German media said the Japanese Nuclear Power Plant was at the same worst level as the tragedy in Chernobyl.

Aftershocks are going on in Japan.

The Japan National Police Agency announced that the death toll increased to 13 333 and the number of those unaccounted for to 15 150 as of 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Magnitude 6.3 and 5.5 quakes jolted Fukushima and Nagano prefectures on Tuesday.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency said there were 408 aftershocks of magnitude of more than 5.0 as of 8 a.m. on Tuesday in the wake of massive quake on March 11.