The fallout from Japan’s quake-crippled nuclear power plant wouldn’t reach Vietnam Friday as suspected earlier, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

 

A report on government website posted Thursday said the ministry anticipates that radiation levels of the fallout, which was expected to cover the north of the Philippines Friday, would also decrease subsequently.

 

So far, observation stations in Vietnam as well as Malaysia and the Philippines were yet to detect any radiation, the statement said.

 

However, the ministry has ordered Vietnamese stations to prepare to release early warnings about radiation when the plume from the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant reaches Vietnam.

 

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Control Wednesday found no radiation contamination on two Vietnamese people who’d just returned from Japan – a student studying in Saitama Prefecture, and another taking part in a conference in Ibaraki Prefecture.

 

The Japanese six-unit plant has suffered explosions, fires and smokes since its power supply and cooling system was hit by historic quake and tsunami on March 11.

 

While its operators are struggling to contain a meltdown, radioactive emissions have been found contaminating tap water, cooking, and vegetables in Tokyo, and the prefectures of Fukushima and Ibaraki.