Japan : Expanded evacuation considered

Via NHK News :

" The Japanese government is considering expanding its current 20-kilometer evacuation radius around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, taking into account the risks of long-term accumulated radiation exposure.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said on Monday that the government may advise residents in areas between 20 and 30 kilometers from the plant to evacuate, based on accumulated radiation exposure levels. Currently such residents have been advised to remain indoors.

Edano also said the government is considering advising residents to evacuate even from areas outside the zone where cumulative radiation exposure risks are higher.

He said the possibility that the situation at the plant will worsen cannot be ruled out.

Iitate Village in Fukushima Prefecture could be the target of the evacuation instruction, because high levels of accumulated radiation have been recorded in some areas there. Most of Iitate lies farther than 30 kilometers from the power plant."