functions of the futenma base should be transferred to a new air field to be constructed on the coast of nago city, also in okinawa. >>> a survey has found that japan's march 11th tsunami triggered at least 130 fires, destroying over 5 million square meters of the northeastern three prefectures. that's the worst case on record in japan. fires were sparked when fuel from tanks and ships drifting after the tsunami were ignited by vehicle batteries or other sources. once lit, flames spread quickly as tsunami debris hinders firefighters. firefighters from iwate, miyagi, and fukushima prefectures told nhk that 131 fires had been reported at a total area of around 5.65 million square meters have burnt in four cities and towns. similar fires occurred when major earthquakes hit japan in 1964 and 1993. but damage in each incident was about 1/100 that of the march 11th disaster. the figure is likely to rise as the fire departments continue to survey the northeast. >>> the japan society of civil engineers has revised down the height of the highest tsunami of march 11th, which it says was 39.7 meters in miyak

functions of the base should be transferred to a new airfield to be constructed on the coast of nago city, also in okinawa. in a message to the world economic forum, noda said japan will contribute to the international comnity despite the march 11 disaster. >>> the prime minister sent a message to the annual forum meeting in china's northeastern city on wednesday. noda first expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the international community. he said clear signs of reconstruction are pairing in disaster-stricken northeastern japan. [ speaking japanese ] >>> noda says his cabinet is doing everything possible to resolve the fukushima daiichi accident. he says the situation is improving in line with the schedule with help from other countries. noda said he wants to cooperate with skprerts pr experts from around the world to rebuild the area. >>> civil engineers revised down the height of the highest tsunami to reach inland on march 11, which it says was 39.7 meters. the finding for the city was reported to a society meeting on wednesday. the society is examining the disaster a

called on noda to begin laying the ground work for building alternative city in the head district of nago cityed by the two governments. obamsa hhos see nglerogress on this issu ro e ineti o trans-rs re. takamoto kajiwara, nhk world, new york. >>> prime minister noda also met the head of the united nations. he told him that japan will send a survey team to south sudan in preparation for possible japanese participation in a u.n. peace-keeping mission there. noda met u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon in new york on wednesday. noda referred to an earlier request from ban, that japan dispatch a ground self-defense force to improve engineering unit to help infrastructure there. the prime minister said the government is now considering sending two personnel to the u.n. peace keeping operation headquarters. ban said he appreciates japan's response to the request at the u.n. disaster preparedness conference in 2015. noda also said in a u.n. disaster preparedness conference in 2015. noda also met south korean president, lee myung-bak on wednesday. they agreed to accelerate efforts to resume stalled ne