The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised Singaporeans in the areas affected by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant problems in Japan to move to safer locations.
A spokesman from the MFA said Singaporeans currently in Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures should evacuate the area with immediate effect.
Singaporeans in prefectures neighbouring Fukushima, such as Yamagata, and Niigata, as well as in the Kanto region (Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi), should consider leaving if they have no pressing reasons to remain there.
The Singapore Embassy in Tokyo has made arrangements for Singaporeans living within the radius of 80 to 100 km from the nuclear power plant to leave for safer locations starting 17 March 2011.
The embassy has been assisting Singaporeans who wish to leave Japan with travel arrangements, immigration or visa-related issues, and in some urgent cases, helped arrange local transportation.
" We are working closely with Singapore Airlines to ensure that there is sufficient capacity for Singaporeans wishing to return to Singapore, including the possibility of mounting extra flights," said the spokesman.
Consular teams in Tokyo are stationed at Narita and Haneda Airports and will render the necessary consular assistance to Singaporeans who decide to return to Singapore, the spokesman added.
Singaporeans wishing to return home or travel to a third country may also wish to consider commercial flights from the Kansai International Airport in Osaka, the Central Japan International Airport in Nagoya, and the Fukuoka International Airport in Fukuoka.
They should closely monitor the situation and follow instructions from their local authorities, the spokesman pointed out.
20 Singaporeans in Sendai, approximately 90km from Fukushima, have indicated to that they wish to stay behind. The Singapore Embassy will continue to stay in touch with them.
" We continue to advise against all non-essential travel to Japan," the MFA spokesman said