Concerns over radioactive contamination are growing among people living next to the new evacuation advisory zones near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The people live just outside an area in Date and Minami Soma cities that the government last week designated for voluntary evacuation.

On Monday evening, Minami Soma city officials visited the homes of 5 families in Jisabara district, next to the zones.

The officials checked the radiation levels around the houses at the request of the concerned residents.