Tokyo airports packed as passengers queue to leave Japan

Tokyo: Hundreds of foreigners continued to leave Japan on Monday amid heightened fears over the safety of the country's nuclear plants.

Long queues could be seen at the departure terminal of the Haneda Airport.

French Chef Christine Pontoizeau, who works in Japan said, "My family and friends are really worried so I'm trying to figure out how to go back to France and it's a bit difficult."

Just outside Tokyo, at the bigger Narita Airport which handles many more international flights, similar chaos can be seen with serpentine queues of worried tourists.

English teacher from Spain who was visiting Japan when the quake struck said that the "nuclear plant problems really scared me" and that was when he thought it was time to go.

"It's obviously worrying what's happening in Fukushima," said English citizen, Nicole Daniells, whose husband has been working for a British company in Tokyo.

The company had advised all its employees to leave the country temporarily.

However Nicole is sure that "the situation is under control, I'm sure of that, but normal life is going to be disrupted for a few days."

Japanese authorities continue to struggle with a growing nuclear crisis and the threat of multiple meltdowns.