Japan encourages voluntary evacuations near stricken nuclear plant

Workers in protective suits prepare Thursday to decontaminate two nuclear plant workers in Fukushima, Japan. STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Two Japanese hospitalized in China due to radiation are "fine," a spokesman saysHigh radiation is detected in Ibaraki Prefecture water; water safe in Tokyo, ChibaRadiation in seawater is 104 times above normal, a drop from the previous dayAn official says Japan will provide shuttles for those within 20-to-30 km of the plant Tokyo (CNN) -- Japan's government will offer transportation and other assistance to those in a buffer zone around the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, a top official said Friday, noting these people have been put in a "difficult" situation.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said authorities are encouraging people living between 20 and 30 kilometers (12.5 and 19 miles) from the plant to leave the area voluntarily because of the challenges they "have faced in their daily lives."

Those who live closer already have been ordered to evacuate because of dangerously high levels of radiation.

A primary challenge for that region, he said, has had to do with commerce -- namely, the difficulty in getting needed materials in and out of the area.

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