The government is considering designating areas near the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant as off-limits for residents for an extensive period, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Wednesday.
Concern is growing that a large amount of water contaminated by radioactive materials being stored at the crippled plant could threaten the safety of people living in the vicinity, government officials said.
The central government also believes it will be necessary to secure the area around the plant so workers can safely carry out their assignments while they remove melted fuel from the facility's reactors.