NewsBreakingOnline

Under the order, which goes into effect at midnight local time, it will be illegal to enter a 20km (12-mile) evacuation zone around the Fukushima nuclear reactor Tens of thousands of people who were evacuated from near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant risk arrest if they return home, after the government declared the area a no-entry zone due to high radiation levels. Under the order, which goes into effect at midnight local time, people living within a 20-kilometre radius of the atomic plant will be given up to two hours to enter the area to collect belongings. The move came amid concern over the long-term health risks posed by high levels of accumulated radiation, despite signs of progress in bringing the stricken facility under control. The government has also extended the evacuation zone to several locations outside the 20-kilometre zone, including areas in which as many as 130,000 people had initially been asked to leave voluntarily or stay indoors. Residents in those areas will be given a month to evacuate. The government’s chief spokesman, Yukio Edano, urged people living inside the new no-entry zone to abide by the order for the sake of their health. “The plant is not stable,” he told reporters. “We have been asking residents not to enter the area as there is a huge risk to their safety.” Under the order, people who enter the zone without permission face fines of up to 100,000 yen and possible arrest. “We beg the understanding of residents,” Edano said. “We really don’t want them to enter the area, but unfortunately some people are still living there.” Almost all of the 8,000 people living in the 20-kilometre zone have been evacuated, but some have refused to abandon their livestock or move from their homes into evacuation centres. Police said about 60 families had defied the evacuation order imposed after the crisis began, adding that some had been persuaded to leave. The contaminated bodies of as many as a 1,000 people who died in the 11 March earthquake and tsunami have yet to be recovered from the area. The stricter measure was introduced to stop people from returning to collect belongings and to prevent theft. Until now, police have not had the legal authority to block returnees. Edano said that over the next one to two months, one resident per household would be permitted to return home on chartered buses to collect belongings. They will all be required to undergo radiation screening on their way out. Those living within three kilometres of the plant and other areas where very high levels of radiation have been detected will not be allowed to return, even for a short period, Kyodo said. “We realise this is extremely inconvenient for residents, but we urge you to be patient,” Edano said. The prime minister, Naoto Kan, flew to Fukushima prefecture on Thursday to explain the order to officials and evacuees. Kan, whose approval rating has fallen over his handling of the nuclear crisis, said the government would enforce the no-go zone order. He asked the prefecture’s governor, Yuhei Sato, to help win the understanding of local communities, according to Kyodo news agency. Tens of thousands of people affected by the nuclear crisis, many of whom fled with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, face many more months living in evacuation centres. The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power [Tepco], said last week it would take between six and nine months to bring down radiation levels and make the facility safe, a time line some experts have described as optimistic. Edano conceded that Tepco had not been adequately prepared to cope with the disaster. “Leaving aside the question of whether the accident could have been predicted, it is clear that there was insufficient preparation. “We urge all nuclear plant operators to immediately take every possible precaution in light of the Fukushima disaster.” A Tepco official on Wednesday admitted that ful inside the plant’s No 1 reactor could be melting. ”I can’s say with absolute certainty that [the fuel] jas not melted,” Junichi Matsumoto said, adding that the firm had been unable to confirm the condition of the reactor’s core. Japan disaster Japan Nuclear power Natural disasters and extreme weather Justin McCurry guardian.co.uk