The region surrounding the damaged nuclear plant in Fukushima, north-eastern Japan, could be uninhabitable for 10 or 20 years, said today an adviser to the government led by Prime Minister Naoto Kan. The advisor attributed this statement to the Premier, but returned later to say that it is a personal comment. Confusing and sometimes contradictory information provided by Japanese officials have fueled the uncertainties surrounding the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
“You can’t live there for now. The situation could last between 10 and 20 years”, said Kenichi Matsumoto press adviser in the Kan office. He did not specify how long the area stretches.
Initially, Matsumoto said that he’s quoting Japan’s Chief Executive statements made at a meeting today at his residence, according to Japanese news agencies Kyodo and Jiji and TV station TBS.
Later, the government advisor stated that it is his own statement. He told the press that Prime Minister Naoto Kan called him in connection to these declarations. “These are my own words. Perhaps the Prime Minister shares that view, but he didn’t say it”, Matsumoto said. A little later, Kan said to journalists that he himself has not made those statements.
Following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant caused by the earthquake and the devastating tsunami on March11, the Japanese government set up an evacuation area of a 20 km radius around the plant. The executive said Monday that it will expand this area.
On Tuesday, Japanese nuclear safety agency has raised the event level of the Fukushima nuclear accident to 7, the maximum level on nuclear and radiological events scale (INES). It’s the same level of impact as the Chernobyl disaster.