Japan to expand evacuation zone around stricken nuclear plant

Japan will expand the evacuation zone around its tsunami-hit nuclear plant in northeast Japan to areas beyond a 20 km (12.4 mile) radius to include villages and towns that have had more accumulated radiation, Japan's chief cabinet secretary said on Monday.

"These regions could accumulate 20 millisieverts or more radiation over a period of a year," Yukio Edano told a news conference, naming Iitate village, 40km from the plant, part of the city of Kawamata and other areas. "There is no need to evacuate immediately," he added, but said it would be desirable to proceed with the new evacuation over a one-month period. (Reuters)