State Dept.: Travelers should avoid Japan for now

The U.S. State Department has issued a warning to travelers about the dangers of traveling to Japan after more than 200 earthquakes have ravaged busy industrial areas.

“The department said it “strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid tourism and non-essential travel to Japan at this time.”

ATVN’s Marie Agnello, however, was on one of the first flights to Japan after the earthquakes hit.

“The most astounding thing that we’ve noticed so far is that it is business as usual here,” said Agnello from the Narita International Airport in Japan.

“So far we’ve not seen any delays, any cancellations,” she added, “and everyone is going about their business as if the [earthquake] didn’t even happen.”

She said the train stations are seeing significant dela

ys or cancellations going into northern Japan where the quake hit hardest, but that trains are running as normal into the busy Tokyo area.

The State Department says aftershocks are likely for weeks.

Travelers can see the latest from the State Department on its website, http://travel.state.gov.