Japan widens evacuation zone near tsunami hit Fukushima nuke plant

April 22nd, 2011 - 1:43 pm ICT by ANI  

Tokyo, Apr 22 (ANI): Japan has included some towns outside a 20-kilometer radius of the earthquake-cum-tsunami hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to the list of areas covered by its evacuation directive over concerns of high levels of radiation.

The Kyodo news agency quoted Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano as saying that all residents in Katsurao, Namie and Iitate and some in Kawamata and Minamisoma in Fukushima Prefecture have to leave the region by late May.

The announcement came a day after the government declared the 20-km zone around the tsunami-stricken plant a no-go area.

Edano had earlier claimed that the risk of massive radiation leaks from the troubled plant was lower than what it was at the start of the crisis.

“The risk that the situation will worsen and that there would be new massive emissions of radioactive materials is becoming considerably smaller,” he had said.

However, he had added that the centre was discussing with the local on the possibility of expanding the evacuation area over the radiation spread concerns. (ANI)

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