Japanese evacuations beyond zone

Residents from Kawamata and Iitate are now in evacuation centres

Residents have been moved further away from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant as the no-go zone is extended and repair works are halted.

People left their homes in the two towns of Kawamata and Iitate to spend their first night in evacuation centres.

Japanese engineers have abandoned their latest attempt to stabilise a stricken reactor at the Fukushima plant.

The power plant was badly damaged by the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March.

The new evacuation zone was decided upon last month as radiation levels were expected to increase, making the move necessary.

The towns are more than 30km (19 miles) from the Fukushima plant, which is continuing to leak radioactive material.

About 5,000 people have been moved into public housing, hotels and other facilities in nearby cities.

The mayor of Kawamata, Michio Furukawa, told the first group of evacuees: ”I know you are worried but we will overcome difficulties together”.

More evacuations are expected in the coming days.

Efforts to control the collapse of Fukushima are continuing to face problems.

The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), had intended to cool reactor 1 by filling the containment chamber with water.

But Tepco said melting fuel rods had created a hole in the chamber, allowing 3,000 tonnes of contaminated water to leak into the basement of the reactor building.

Tepco says it will come up with a new plan to stabilise the reactor by Tuesday.

The earthquake and tsunami killed thousands of people and left many more homeless.

The tsunami flattened buildings in fishing villages and port towns, and swept debris miles inland.

Cooling systems to the reactors were knocked out by the earthquakes, fuel rods overheated, and attempts to release pressure in the chambers led to explosions in the buildings housing the reactors.

The government and Tepco said it would take until next January to achieve a cold shut-down at the plant.

Last week the government agreed a huge compensation package for those affected by the disaster.

Analysts say the final bill for compensation could top $100bn (£61bn).

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