The Japanese government will get directly involved in containing rising levels of radioactive water at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant instead of relying solely on the operator, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday, calling it an "urgent issue".

Almost 2-1/2 years after an earthquake and tsunami caused reactor meltdowns at Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima Daiichi station, the toxic water that has plagued the clean-up from the start now threatens to flood out of the plant's confines Into the Pacific Ocean.

Workers wearing protective suits and masks are seen near tanks of radiation-contaminated water at Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture in this March 6, 2013

The Fukushima disaster is the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl, and the delays in getting to grips with the clean-up have caused global concern.

"The contaminated water problem is one that the Japanese people have a high level of interest in and is an urgent issue to deal with," Abe told reporters after attending a meeting of the government's task force on the disaster.

"Rather than relying on Tokyo Electric, the government will take measures," he said.

Abe said he ordered Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi to urgently deal with the water situation and ensure Tokyo Electric takes appropriate action to deal with the clean-up, which is expected to take more than 40 years and cost $11 billion.

(Source: Reuters)