Kan visits Fukushima to explain no-entry zone policy
Apr. 21, 2011
Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Thursday visited Fukushima Prefecture, where many residents have been forced to evacuate in the wake of the nuclear emergency at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
The visit came after the government decided to designate areas within a 20-kilometer radius of the plant as off-limits from Thursday midnight, while expediting arrangements for evacuees to temporarily return home.
Their time as refugees will inevitably be prolonged as Tokyo Electric Power Co. expects it will take six to nine months to bring the troubled reactors at the plant under control.
In Fukushima, Kan will explain government policies on setting the no-entry zone and reconstruction of the disaster-hit areas during his meetings with Gov. Yuhei Sato and evacuees.
The premier flew to the prefecture by a Self-Defense Forces helicopter.
After the March 11 disaster, the government has directed people within 20 km of the plant to evacuate and those in the 20- to 30-km ring to stay indoors or voluntarily leave the area.
Exactly a month after the quake, Japan expanded the evacuation zone beyond the 20-km radius because of concern over accumulated radioactive materials. Residents in areas subject to the new evacuation order are required to leave in around one month.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on April 21, 2011)
The visit came after the government decided to designate areas within a 20-kilometer radius of the plant as off-limits from Thursday midnight, while expediting arrangements for evacuees to temporarily return home.
Their time as refugees will inevitably be prolonged as Tokyo Electric Power Co. expects it will take six to nine months to bring the troubled reactors at the plant under control.
In Fukushima, Kan will explain government policies on setting the no-entry zone and reconstruction of the disaster-hit areas during his meetings with Gov. Yuhei Sato and evacuees.
The premier flew to the prefecture by a Self-Defense Forces helicopter.
After the March 11 disaster, the government has directed people within 20 km of the plant to evacuate and those in the 20- to 30-km ring to stay indoors or voluntarily leave the area.
Exactly a month after the quake, Japan expanded the evacuation zone beyond the 20-km radius because of concern over accumulated radioactive materials. Residents in areas subject to the new evacuation order are required to leave in around one month.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on April 21, 2011)
