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Japan raises the severity level of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant from five to seven, putting it on par with Chernobyl. A level seven is 100 times more severe than a level five and is the maximum rating.

Japan raised the severity of its nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to a level seven on Tuesday, putting it on par with the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.

Officials say the rating reflects the initial severity of the crisis, but radiation levels are much lower now.

[Hidehiko Nishiyama, Nuclear & Industrial Safety Agency]:
"Based on data we've collected since March 18, we've given this a preliminary rating of seven. However, the emission of radioactive substances is about 10 percent of the amount of Chernobyl which is on a similar level."

Japan is struggling to regain control of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated its northeast coast on March 11.

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The International Atomic Energy Agency says a level 5-rated event is a limited release of radioactive material, with several deaths from radiation... while a level 7 incident entails a major release of radiation with widespread health and environmental effects.

The scale is designed so the severity of an event is about 10 times greater for each increase in level.

The country's nuclear commission says the cumulative amount of external exposure to radiation has exceeded the yearly limit of one millisievert.

Kyodo news agency reports affected areas extend more than 36 miles to the northwest of the plant and about 25 miles to the south-southwest.

The government is encouraging people to leave certain areas beyond its 12 mile exclusion zone around the plant.

Thousands of people could be affected by the move.