Overnight stays allowed in evacuation zones

December 24, 2013

Fukushima evacuees begin temporary visits

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131225_01.html

Some residents who evacuated after the Fukushima nuclear accident are visiting their homes for the New Year holidays.

People are not usually allowed to stay overnight at houses in evacuation zones near the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

But the government says residents of areas with relatively low radiation levels can stay at their homes until January 7th.

Yoshiyuki Sugi and his wife drove to their house in the Odaka district of Minamisoma City from their temporary accommodation on Tuesday.

They return home once a week during the day, but this is the first time they will spend the night at their house since the nuclear accident in March 2011.

Sugi says he is happy to come back but he is worried about radiation as the decontamination work around his home has not been completed.

Government officials say about 1,700 people from 556 households in 6 municipalities have sought permission to make temporary visits during the New Year period.