Japan lifts parts of evacuation zone around Fukushima nuclear plant

[News_Editor]

Japan lifts parts of evacuation zone around Fukushima nuclear plant

2011-09-30 23:17:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- The government of Japan on Friday lifted its evacuation advisory in certain areas within a 20 to 30 kilometer (12.4 to 18.6 mile) radius from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The lifted advisory had covered the entire towns of Hirono and Naraha, the village of Kawauchi, and parts of Minamisomo and Tamura, all located in Japan's Fukushima Prefecture which was hit hard by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis.

The decision was made Friday evening in the office of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda during a ministerial conference which focused on the nuclear emergency, the Kyodo news agency reported.

Almost 60,000 people were previously evacuated from the mentioned areas although several of them returned. Authorities issued the evacuation advisory on April 22, over a month after the nuclear crisis began.

Government officials said radiation levels are now low in the region but the majority of residents doubt their lives will return to normal anytime soon. Not all of the residents are expected to return and some neighborhoods will probably remain uninhabited for months or years.

Meanwhile, plutonium has been detected at six locations in Fukushima Prefecture, including in the village of Iitate village which is located about 45 kilometers (28 miles) northwest of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Japanese science ministry official said plutonium was detected as a result of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima plant. This is the first time the government confirms the spread of plutonium to the village. However, officials said the amount of detected plutonium was low and poses no danger to health.

Last week, Prime Minister Yoda told the United Nations' (UN) General Assembly in New York that the country is currently focusing on efforts to move up the existing target period to achieve a cold shutdown of the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant by the end of the year.

Japan has been facing an ongoing nuclear crisis since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was severely damaged on March 11 when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami devastated the country. The disaster disabled the cooling systems of the plant and radioactive elements leaked into the sea and were later found in water, air and food products in some parts of Japan.

At least 23,482 people were killed while 8,069 others remain missing. There are still more than 88,000 people who are staying in shelters in 21 prefectures around Japan.

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