An evacuation order that has been in place since the 2011 nuclear accident at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power station has been lifted in some parts of Futaba Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
The order was lifted on Wednesday for nearly 5% of the town, 2.4 miles (4km) west of the station, press reports said.
The area covers the northeastern part of the town where radiation levels have been relatively low, and one section of a no-entry zone whose high levels of radiation have been reduced by decontamination work.
The order was lifted on Wednesday for nearly 5% of the town, 2.4 miles (4km) west of the station, press reports said.
The area covers the northeastern part of the town where radiation levels have been relatively low, and one section of a no-entry zone whose high levels of radiation have been reduced by decontamination work.
Futaba, which had 7,000 residents before the accident, is the only municipality whose entire area had been under an evacuation order for the past nine years.
This is also the first time that the order has been lifted for a no-entry zone.
However, NHK reported that town officials say no residents are returning at the moment because of the slow progress in rebuilding basic infrastructure.
The officials say they are building an industrial complex and public facilities so evacuees can start to return from 2022.
