U.S. asks citizens in 80-km radius of Japan nuke plant to evacuate
Mar. 18, 2011
The U.S. Embassy in Japan has asked American citizens living within an 80-kilometer radius of the quake-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in Japan to evacuate as a precautionary measure.
''We are recommending, as a precaution, that American citizens who live within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant evacuate the area or to take shelter indoors if safe evacuation is not practical,'' the embassy said in the advice issued Thursday local time.
Conditions such as weather and wind direction will affect the area of radioactive contamination in a complex way, the embassy said, adding that low-level radioactive materials can reach areas more than 80 km away from the damaged nuclear power plant.
In Tokyo, top government spokesman Yukio Edano expressed ''understanding'' over the advisory from its ally.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano said he understands that the U.S. government made a ''more conservative'' decision from the standpoint of protecting its citizens.
The Japanese government currently sets the evacuation zone covering areas within a 20-km radius of the plant and advises those within a 30-km radius to stay indoors.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on March 17, 2011)
''We are recommending, as a precaution, that American citizens who live within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant evacuate the area or to take shelter indoors if safe evacuation is not practical,'' the embassy said in the advice issued Thursday local time.
Conditions such as weather and wind direction will affect the area of radioactive contamination in a complex way, the embassy said, adding that low-level radioactive materials can reach areas more than 80 km away from the damaged nuclear power plant.
In Tokyo, top government spokesman Yukio Edano expressed ''understanding'' over the advisory from its ally.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano said he understands that the U.S. government made a ''more conservative'' decision from the standpoint of protecting its citizens.
The Japanese government currently sets the evacuation zone covering areas within a 20-km radius of the plant and advises those within a 30-km radius to stay indoors.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on March 17, 2011)
