Japanese Officials Urged To Expand Evacuation Zone

The International Atomic Energy Agency is urging the Japanese government to expand the evacuation zone surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after discovering high levels of radioactivity in soil samples.

According to the agency, radiation levels around Litate village, which is 25 miles outside of the zone, exceeds the international body’s criteria for evacuation.

“We advised [officials] to carefully assess the situation,” an agency spokesperson said in a briefing. “They indicated that they are already assessing.”

According to Reuters however, the Japanese government has not signaled that it will widen the zone. 

“At the moment, we have no reason to think that the radiation will have an effect on people’s health,” said Yukio Edano, Japan’s chief Cabinet Secretary. 

The Fukushima power plant was damaged following the country’s devastating quake and tsunami. The mandatory evacuation zone is set around 12 miles of the plant.