Updated March 18, 2:45 p.m.

Seven of the eight students studying abroad in Japan have opted to voluntarily leave the country, a University spokeswoman said Friday.

Their decision to evacuate comes after the State Department issued an advisory Wednesday urging Americans to avoid Japan or leave the country in response to the deteriorating situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Temple University Japan – the largest officially sanctioned foreign university in Japan – plans to evacuate about 200 students because of radiation fears.

“As of now, most students are leaving on their own. As airports/other transportation methods are not shut down now, there is no need to evacuate, since students can willingly leave,” University spokeswoman Jill Sankey said in an e-mail.

Sankey said one graduate student who was staying in southern Japan decided to remain in the country.