Airlines scramble to get travelers out of Tokyo

Video: Nuclear crisis hits aid efforts in Japan

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   MATT LAUER, co-host: Ann Curry is in Akita , Japan . That's about 200 miles to the northwest of the Fukushima plant. She joins us now by phone. And, Ann , when we spoke a couple of days ago you were telling me the people in the affected region had so much on their minds, so much to deal with that the nuclear side of things wasn't really on their radar yet. Has that changed dramatically in the last couple of days?

   ANN CURRY reporting: It actually has, very much so, especially because I was talking to you about the people who were in these evacuation centers, Matt , and they -- at that time I was talking to you about it, they don't have access to telephones and to -- and to television news so they're not really finding out about things. But now word of mouth is causing them to become much more aware of it. They are -- they will not know if there is a major, major problem until -- for -- because it'll be -- it'll be delayed getting to them. But certainly they are hugely concerned. You mentioned that we are in Akita . Our news team, out of an abundance of caution, today traveled further away from those troubled nuclear reactors , but everywhere, everywhere people are concerned. And people are talking about this drama playing out in Fukushima . Perhaps the people -- the Japanese people , of all people, more deeply understand the risks of radiation exposure, having experienced a rise in cancer rates and deformed births because of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki . But we should also note that this struggling nuclear reactors are slowing the movement of international aid , Matt , because they're right between Tokyo , the areas hardest hit by the tsunami, and the -- and the quake. So there's a really -- there's a real problem getting aid up past those nuclear power plants to the people who are really affected by the tsunami and the -- and the quake.

   LAUER: All right, Ann Curry reporting from Akita in Japan . And as always, Ann , thank you very much for your report. We'll check in with you a little bit later. It's nine minutes after the hour. Once again, Savannah.

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