Akhir 12, 1432 H/March 17, 2011, SPA -- Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden on Thursday advised their nationals to leave an area within 80 kilometres of the damaged nuclear power plant in Japan, dpa reported. Sweden was preparing contingency plans to assist Swedish nationals who want to leave the Asian country, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt told reporters. Denmark, Norway and Sweden recommended nationals to avoid all travel to Japan due to the evolving events at the Fukushima nuclear plant in north-eastern Japan, located some 250 kilometres north of Tokyo. Like neighbouring Finland, they also advised citizens to consider leaving the greater Tokyo area. Finland said it would Friday open an office in Hiroshima as part of its consular efforts. Operations would continue at the embassy in Tokyo. Authorities in Japan have evacuated people within a 20-kilometre radius of the stricken Fukushima plant. Scandinavian Airlines and Finnish carrier Finnair meanwhile continued to operate flights to Japan and offered to rebook or refund tickets - even those in categories that are not normally refundable.
