As tension builds in Japan over the safety of a crippled nuclear power plant, a Dundee man living in the country has vowed to stay put despite the Foreign Office this week advising Britons in Tokyo to consider returning home.
English teacher Lawrie Macpherson (23) says he is “not worried” about his safety as frantic efforts to cool the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant continued.
Despite a potential disaster unfolding which could spew radiation into the atmosphere, the Menzieshill man believes a lot of foreign media have exaggerated the situation.
“The FCO (British Foreign and Commonwealth Office) sent an email to British nationals in Japan registered with LOCATE which provided a link to a conversation with the UK chief scientific adviser.
“I found his words to be a reassuring and accurate analysis of the situation, and leads me to believe that I don’t face any serious danger and am unlikely to do so in the near future.
“It appears that even in a worst case scenario, only those within a 20-30km radius of the plant will face serious health problems.”
Life in Japan continues as best it can, according to Mr Macpherson, who said the shortage of food and fuel is a more immediate concern than the ongoing nuclear threat.
The Dundee University graduate lives in a small town near Akita City in the north-west around 250km away from the power plant.
Although he escaped the devastation of the tsunami he did feel the overwhelming force of the earthquake which struck last Friday.
“The mood is pretty calm here, the Japanese have been very dignified in dealing with the crisis,” he says.
“Those who need fuel and food are queuing patiently, even in the devastated places on the east coast, and everyone is looking out for one another.
“The petrol shortage is by far the biggest concern for everyone at the moment, as people are often queuing for over an hour to get their ration of 10 litres.
Meanwhile, back home in Dundee Mr Macpherson’s mother Barabara Beaton said her son choosing to stay in Japan did not overly worry her.
“I think he takes after me and is quite level headed. If he is happy to stay over there and believe he is safe then so am I.”
Picture used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user Nomad Tales.