Japan has announced a 20km (12 mile) no-go zone around nuclear plant Fukushima, to be in place from midnight (local time) today.

Yukio Edano, the Chief Cabinet Secretary told reporters in Tokyo: “The plant has not been stable. We have been asking residents not to enter the area as there is a huge risk to their safety. Today, as we have finished arrangements with local authorities, we have decided to designate the area an emergency area based on disaster law.”

The beleaguered Fukushima Daiichi plant was damaged in the first tsunami that hit Japan after the earthquake on 11 March.