Former residents on holiday trip to Fukushima
27 Dec 2013 4:32 AM IST
But fewer than 10 percent of more than 27,000 people eligible for the temporary repatriation programme are taking part, amid fears of high radiation. The government is allowing former residents of selected areas around the plant with relatively low radiation contamination to stay at their homes from Christmas Eve through 7 January.
The programme covers 27,150 of many tens of thousands of Fukushima residents who were ordered by the government to evacuate after the meltdowns at the plant in March 2011. They were allowed temporarily to return home after contamination levels in and around their houses registered lower than estimated, although the figure was still too high for continuous residence. But only 1,701 people have registered to spend the holiday season at their homes, according to the Reconstruction Agency.
Many people opted not to return due to fears of radiation as well as unrepaired damage to their properties since the disaster.
The programme covers 27,150 of many tens of thousands of Fukushima residents who were ordered by the government to evacuate after the meltdowns at the plant in March 2011. They were allowed temporarily to return home after contamination levels in and around their houses registered lower than estimated, although the figure was still too high for continuous residence. But only 1,701 people have registered to spend the holiday season at their homes, according to the Reconstruction Agency.
Many people opted not to return due to fears of radiation as well as unrepaired damage to their properties since the disaster.
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