The country does experience frequent rains and landslides that could jeopardize evacuation plans from around the plants in the event of a radiation leak, Inter Press Service reported Wednesday.

The government re-examined disaster readiness policies in January, when torrential rains caused landslides and flash floods that blocked roads and caused widespread destruction in the hilly regions in the southeast of the country.

Landslides are common on the roads leading to Angra dos Reis, where two nuclear reactors, located just 100 miles south of Rio de Janeiro, produce 2.5 percent of Brazil's electricity.

In Angra dos Reis about 20,000 people would be at risk in the event of a nuclear accident, officials said.

Former Green Party lawmaker Fernando Gabeira cited at least 120 points at risk of landslides on the narrow highway from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro.

The accident response procedures "were never a good plan," Gabeira told IPS.

"I took part in a simulated evacuation, and the alarm siren didn't work," he said. "A police officer who was going to help us get organized died in an accident. And the highway is very dangerous."

Eletronuclear, the state-controlled company operating the nuclear plants, said in late March it would re-evaluate the safety of the access routes to Angra dos Reis and would hire an independent firm to make the assessment.

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