NHK (Nippon Housou Kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation) has run several reports that show local prefectural governments, near the damaged nuclear pant, but outside the 20km (12.4 miles) evacuation zone, are encouraging their residents to evacuate.

Some residents are leaving.  Some local governments have even booked hotels for mass evacuations to begin next week.  One hotel said they were booked up for two months.