The United States has stepped up its measures to deal with the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, while continuing its efforts to support victims of the March 11 killer quake and tsunami, its embassy in Tokyo said Saturday.

The U.S. Department of Defense set up a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear control center at the U.S. Air Force's Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, and sent two survey teams with expertise on such matters to Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture and the city of Yamagata, areas hit by the powerful quake, the embassy said.

The Department of Energy has sent 17 tons of equipment including aerial measuring devices and detectors, to help detect radiation, it added.

The United States has also provided high-pressure water pumps to Japan from the Yokota base and its Sasebo base in Nagasaki Prefecture to help cool down reactors and fuel pools at the damaged nuclear power station.

As for its rescue activity, teams from the U.S. Agency for International Development, comprising 144 members and 12 search and rescue dogs, had completed their missions in Ofunato and Kamaishi, both in Iwate Prefecture, by Friday, the embassy said.

U.S. military forces have delivered 129,000 pounds of water and 4,200 pounds of food so far to the afflicted areas, it added.

The USAID and the Department of Defense have secured a total of $43 million for immediate expenses of their activities, the embassy said.

==Kyodo