VLADIVOSTOK - Twenty cars shipped from Japan were held at Vladivostok port in Russia's Far East after tests showed they had excessive radiation, the Itar-Tass news agency reported Tuesday.

Related readings:  Radiation leakage in Japan may exceed Chernobyl  Japan ups nuke crisis rating to highest level  Japan falls silent a month after tsunami  Death toll reaches 13,116 from Japan quake-tsunami

The report said the cars, aboard the "Asian Ice" ship, had radiation 1.5 to two times the normal level.

This is the first large shipment of radioactive cars from Japan detected. The used cars that do not meet the safety norms will likely be shipped back to Japan, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the Emergency Ministry said radiation in the Far East of Russia ranged from 5 to 15 micro-roentgens per hour.

Intensified monitoring of the radiation situation continues in 99 stations across Russia. No radiation hazard is forecast for Russian territories so far.