Area near Yokohama school closed due to high radiation levels
A vacant lot beside a canal near an elementary school in Yokohama’s Seya Ward, has been designated a no-entry area following the detection of high levels of radiative cesium. According to Yokohama authorities, topsoil to a depth of 1 cm was found to be emitting 6.85 microsieverts per hour, almost 12 times the government’s legal limit of 0.59 microsieverts per hour, TV Asahi reported Saturday. The radiation is believed to be connected to the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, city officials said. Authorities added that they have closed the premises of the disused canal in response to the discovery, TV Asahi reported. Plans are being made to decontaminate the site by removing topsoil, a spokesperson added.
