Panic-escape from Tokyo

Concerns over radiation leaks from Fukushima nuclear station are growing both in Japan and overseas, but the information appearing on the Japanese and foreign medias are somewhat different.

Currently, the Japanese government advices the people within a 20 km radius of the nuclear facility to leave the area and those living between a 20-30 km radius to stay inside at their homes or evaculation shelters. The Japanese authorities say that the radiation levels outside of a 30 km radius are low enough not to cause any health problems and the medias generally stress the safety side of the issue.

On the other hand, British and American governments advise their nationals to remain outside an 80 km adius of the nuclear facility. Moreover, the residents in Tokyo and to the north of Tokyo are adviced to leave the area. Many foregin governments, including American, British, French, German, Italian, and Australia advise their nationals to leave Japan and some of them even prepare emergency jets. Requests for re-entry visa to Japan are mounting as more and more foreigners want to leave the country until the situation calms down.

Watching the BBC World News this morning, I saw footage of Japanese families taking trains to move to the south of Japan or preparing to evacuate from Tokyo once the situation gets worse. I think that these images are making people even more worried about the current evolving situation.

I don't see these kinds of people around me nor on the Japanese media. I think that those foreigners who don't have to stay in Japan are better to leave the country because their families may worry about them. However, I don't think that they should panic because the radiation levels are still low in Kanto region including Tokyo.