Awwal 18, 1432 H / April 22, 2011, SPA -- The Japanese government on Friday expanded its evacuation zone beyond the previous 20-kilometre zone around the stricken north-eastern nuclear power plant because of continued high levels of radiation, dpa reported. Residents of Iitate, Katsurao, Namie and parts of Minami Soma and Kawamata, all in Fukushima prefecture and between 20 and 50 kilometres from the stricken plant, were ordered to leave the area within a month because the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station was expected to last a long time. The plant was crippled by the March 11 earthquake and ensuing tsunami, leading to fires, explosions and radiation leaks. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the latest decision was made based on internationally recommended radiation standards and measurements collected since the start of the nation's worst nuclear crisis.
