BBC News with David Austin.
The Japanese government has
played down
concern about a possible nuclear meltdown, following a big explosion at a nuclear power station in the north of the country. The blast occurred a day after the area was hit by a powerful earthquake and tsunami. A top government official, Yukio Edano, said a steel container
encasing
the nuclear reactor had not been
rupture
d by the blast.
“It was not the reactor’s container that exploded; therefore it is not the case that a large radiation leak is expected.
According to the results from the radiation monitoring systems of the Tokyo Power Electric Company of Fukushima prefecture, the
density
of the radiation has not increased after the explosion compared to before the explosion.”
Tens of thousands of people have left the area surrounding the nuclear plant. Shortly after the blast, the Japanese authorities extended the evacuation zone around the plant to 20 kilometres. Local media said three people were being treated for exposure to radiation. Medical teams have been sent there to
counter
any further radiation threat, and the government has urged people to stay calm. However, these residents said they were concerned.
“Officials said 10 kilometres or 20 kilometres away is safe, but the radiation may change and go out wider. It’s very disturbing. There is no way to get out of here.”