Tokaimura, Oct 4, 1999 - A public road close to the scene of last Thursday's nuclear accident in Japan has been reopened despite levels of radiation remaining well above background levels.
The Genken Road was reopened to the public after Chief Secretary to the Cabinet, Hiromu Nonaka stated: "We have confirmed that the radiation levels, even in the area 350 metres from the plant have returned to normal."
But measurements taken by a Greenpeace team on Sunday revealed levels of radioactivity to be five times background levels.
Greenpeace team leader Diederik Samson, a nuclear engineer and qualified radiation protection officer from Holland, said: "The high level of radioactivity we measured on Sunday was in the middle of Genken Road. By reopening it, the Japanese authorities are continuing to expose the public to unjustifiable risk."
Greenpeace continues to monitor the situation.
