Areas as far as 170 km away from the Fukushima nuclear plant faced the potential risk of being declared permanent evacuation zones, according to a worst-case scenario drawn up at the height of the crisis by the chief of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission.
The report, compiled March 25 at the request of then Prime Minister Naoto Kan, also said areas 250 km away — including central Tokyo — could have been tainted by radiation and require the government to assist those electing to voluntarily "migrate" away from the area.
The alarming 20-page report was written up by commission Chairman Shunsuke Kondo. The Japan Times obtained a copy of the report, the outline of which was first reported last month by the Mainichi Shimbun, from the Cabinet Office using the information disclosure law.