Advice for people outside 30km radius

 February 26, 2015

NRA deciding on measures outside 30km radius

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html

Feb. 26, 2015 - Updated 17:53 UTC+1

Japanese nuclear regulators are working on advice for people living more than 30 kilometers from a power plant in the event of an accident.

They are likely to instruct people to stay inside buildings if there is any possibility of radioactive material reaching their area.

The government has been focusing on evacuation and other plans for locations within 30 kilometers of a nuclear plant. Local governments are being asked to draw up the plans.

During 2011's Fukushima Daiichi crisis, radioactive material was carried beyond that distance and contaminated land there.

A panel of the Nuclear Regulation Authority on Thursday agreed to a plan to have people more than 30 kilometers from a nuclear plant seek shelter inside buildings if sensors around the facility detect a sharp increase in radiation levels.

The sharp rise would be evidence of a massive discharge of nuclear substances.

The plan says the government will estimate each time the areas at risk and decide where it's necessary to take shelter.

The government will lift the advisory after the threat passes, but some analysts point out that detailed measurements are needed in making that determination.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority is planning to finalize the draft of the new guidelines in March.