Some 800 residents and workers at nuclear power facilities in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture, took part in a nuclear disaster drill Saturday to mark the first anniversary of Japan's worst nuclear accident at the village.
The drill, based on the premise that a local nuclear reactor had suffered a fault and been shut down following a radiation leakage, started at 8:30 a.m.
The village government immediately informed the national and prefectural governments about the accident and called on residents to shut their windows and stay inside.
Tokai Mayor Tatsuya Murakami held a news conference to alert the public and announced measures being taken by the village authorities to deal with the problem.