An executive from the Tokyo Electric Power Company which operates the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, has issued a public apology for spreading radiation into the air and sea.
The plant was damaged by the tsunami which followed an 8.9 earthquake on 11 March.
TEPCO vice-president Sakae Muto said on Saturday:
"I would like to apologise from my heart over the worries and troubles we are causing for society due to the release of radiological materials into the atmosphere and sea water.
"We caused worry and trouble for having made this decision without taking sufficient time to explain the matter beforehand to those involved, to the press, to the fishing industry and to people overseas, and we are sorry for this," he added.
Pumping of radioactive water into the sea is now expected to end on Sunday, a day later than expected. The release will free up storage space for more-radioactive liquid.
The BBC reports work is continuing at the plant to prevent further serious leaks and explosions.
TEPCO is to send an unmanned US T-Hawk drone over the plant to assess the extent of damage, possibly on Sunday.
The company is struggling to contain the worst atomic crisis since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine.
Engineers are not yet in control of the damaged reactors and say it could take months to stabilise them and years to clear up the toxic mess left behind.
Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says it will look into an electric power back-up system that failed after the tsunami, leaving operators unable to cool the reactor.
