Radiation Levels Spike Around Contaminated Tanks At Fukushima Nuclear Plant

Japan Trade Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in protective suit checks the situation of halting contaminated groundwater around the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors along the sea during his visit to Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant on August 26, 2013 in Okuma, Japan. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun/The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)

TOKYO, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Radiation readings around tanks holding contaminated water at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant have spiked more than 20 percent to their highest level, Japan's nuclear regulator said, again raising questions about the clean-up of the worst atomic disaster in 27 years.

Readings at the Fukushima Daiichi plant showed radiation as high as 2,200 millisieverts (mSv), the Nuclear Regulation Authority said, up from 1,800 mSv at the weekend. Exposure to radiation of those levels would be enough to kill an unprotected person within hours.