October 1, 2014
Evacuation advisory lifted for part of Fukushima village of Kawauchi
JIJI
KAWAUCHI, FUKUSHIMA PREF. – The government lifted its evacuation advisory Wednesday for the eastern part of Kawauchi, which is located within 20 km of Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s disaster-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
The eastern Kawauchi area became the second place to see the advisory lifted in the former no-go zone set up in Fukushima Prefecture after the start of the triple meltdown at the Tepco power plant, triggered by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. The advisory for the Miyakoji district of Tamura, in the same prefecture, was removed in April.
The restricted residential area in Kawauchi was also realigned as a zone preparing for the evacuation advisory to be lifted.
About 275 residents from 139 families will be affected by the advisory’s lifting, while the zone realignment will affect 54 residents from 18 families, according to data as of June 1.
Only those who have been temporarily living in their own houses under a long-stay program for the preparation zone are expected to make a swift return. The number of such people totaled 48, from 22 families, as of Thursday. The other residents would likely refrain from returning home soon, partly because living conditions remain difficult.
The central government and the municipal government of Kawauchi plan to invite supermarket operators to open stores by the end of next March.
In April 2012, the eastern Kawauchi area, which had been part of the no-go zone within a 20-km radius of the crippled nuclear plant, was realigned into preparation and restricted residential zones, depending on radiation levels.
In both zones, displaced residents were allowed to visit their homes during the daytime. But on April 26 of this year, residents in the preparation zone were allowed to stay there for three months, which the government attributed to progress in decontamination work.
Evacuation order lifted in Fukushima village
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20141001_13.html
Oct. 1, 2014 - Updated 02:58 UTC+2
The Japanese government has lifted an evacuation order for part of Kawauchi Village near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The measure -- for the eastern part of the village in Fukushima Prefecture -- took effect on Wednesday at midnight. It affects 274 residents in 139 households.
The government says decontamination has been completed in the area. The roads and other infrastructure have been rebuilt, and utility services are up and running.
This is the second time an evacuation order has been lifted since the 2011 accident, after the Miyakoji district in Tamura City in April.
Residents can now stay in their homes and reopen restaurants or other businesses.
But some have expressed concern that a drop in radiation levels is not sufficient for a return to their former lives. Others complain that shopping and medical services are inconvenient.
Because of this, not all former residents are expected to return to the village.
Also on Wednesday, the government re-designated some areas of the village where overnight stays had been prohibited as zones preparing for the return of residents.
An evacuation order is still in place for 10 municipalities around the Daiichi plant more than 3 and a half years after the accident, affecting some 80,000 people. Entry or overnight stays are limited in some areas.
The government has designated evacuation zones in 3 categories according to radiation levels. Evacuation orders are to be lifted after decontamination is complete.
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