Government reclassifies least contaminated areas around Fukushima plant, opening up towns of Kawauchi and Tamura

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Japan is opening part of the evacuation zone around its leaking nuclear power plant for the first time since last year's disasters, allowing up to 16,000 evacuees to return home.

The 12-mile perimeter around the Fukushima plant remains largely intact, but the government said it would reclassify the least contaminated areas into three categories based on their radiation levels.

The towns of Kawauchi and Tamura will reopen from Sunday, and Minamisoma in mid-April, affecting about 16,000 residents. However, most are waiting until the area is further decontaminated and infrastructure restored.

Parts of each town will remain off-limits because of higher exposure levels. Eight other towns in the same low-contamination category have not yet decided which areas should be reopened.

The nuclear crisis caused by a tsunami on 11 March 2011 forced 100,000 people to leave their homes because of radiation contamination. It is uncertain whether those closest to the plant will ever be able to return.

Many who formerly lived in the no-go zone are divided between wanting to return home and fearing the contamination.