Tokyo (ANTARA News) - The transport ministry banned aircraft on Tuesday from flying within 30 kilometers of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, following a deepening crisis that has developed into brief leaks of high-level radiation.

The move, imposed under the Civil Aeronautics Law, excludes aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations, and is not expected to have a large impact on scheduled commercial flights in the country, according to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry.

Similar irregular flight bans have been imposed three times before, including one for the Group of Eight summit meeting in Hokkaido in 2008 and another for meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Yokohama last October, Kyodo reported.


(KR-IFB/H-RN)

Editor: Suryanto
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