Xinhuanet, Chicago, April 15 (Reporter Li Wei) The U.S. State Department of Illinois announced on the 15th that it will donate 2,000 nuclear radiation detectors to Japan to help rescue or search personnel reduce their exposure to nuclear radiation.

The 2,000 detectors will be shipped to Japan this week. This nuclear radiation detector is the size of a pager and can be fixed on clothing. When the intensity of nuclear radiation suddenly increases, the detector will issue a warning, thereby reducing the risk of people being exposed to nuclear radiation.

In addition, the Illinois government is planning to donate much-needed food and agricultural products to Japan when the harvest season arrives.

Pat Quinn, the governor of Illinois, said that based on the long-standing friendly relations between Illinois and Japan and the large number of post-disaster needs in Japan, the government, business community, and farmers in the State of Illinois will be obliged to extend a helping hand to Japan. Japan is the main trading partner of Illinois and the main importer of corn and soybeans produced in the state.

The Consul General of the Japanese Consulate General in Chicago expressed his gratitude for the generous assistance from the State of Illinois and stated that "Illinois is a true friend of Japan."

The Japanese government officially announced on the 12th that the severity of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant will be raised to the highest level.