The Japanese government Friday expanded its safety zone beyond 20 kilometres around the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant due to accumulating radiation, dpa reported.
Residents of Iitate Village, Katsurao Village, Namie Town and parts of Minami Soma City and Kawamata Town were ordered to leave the area within a month due to expectations that the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station would last a long time.
Those municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture are located outside the 20-kilometre exclusion zone around the plant.
The plant was crippled by the March 11 earthquake and ensuing tsunami, leading to fires, blasts and radiation leaks.
The government banned the entry into the exclusion zone, which took effect at midnight. Those who live within 20 to 30 kilometres from the plant have been advised to stay indoors or leave voluntarily.