Removal of the Designation of Areas under Evacuation Orders
At the joint meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council and the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters held on March 7, 2013, it was pointed out that “a certain view should be indicated within the year” regarding the lifting of evacuation orders. Accordingly, procedures to be followed for lifting evacuation orders were presented based on the discussions over the Cabinet decision on December 20, 2013, titled “For Accelerating the Reconstruction of Fukushima from the Nuclear Disaster.” In order to ease returning residents' anxiety over health effects of radiation, measures are being taken to reduce radiation exposure and eliminate health concerns (risk communication project). These measures include deployment of counselors, development of counselor support centers, ascertaining and management of personal doses, and radiation monitoring.
In the meantime, evacuation orders were lifted by March 2020 for all areas designated as Preparation Areas for Lift of Evacuation Orders or Habitation Restricted Areas, except for Restricted Areas.
Regarding Restricted Areas, evacuation orders were lifted for the first time for some areas in Futaba Town, Okuma Town and Tomioka Town within the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas (SRRBA) designated as Restricted Areas, upon the reopening of the entirety of the JR Joban Line in March 2020. Evacuation orders were also lifted for the SRRBA in Katsurao Village and Okuma Town in June 2022, in Futaba Town in August 2022, in Namie Town in March 2023, in Tomioka Town (Yonomori and Osuge Districts) in April 2023, in Iitate Village in May 2023, and in Tomioka Town (in Oragahama and Fukaya Districts) in November 2023. Evacuation orders were thus lifted for the entirety of the SRRBA. In areas other than the SRRBA in Restricted Areas, Specified Living Areas for Returnees were established in Okuma Town, Futaba Town, and Namie Town by January 2024. In order to lift evacuation orders for those Specified Living Areas for Returnees, the national government will continue efforts, such as decontamination work and infrastructure development. Although Kawauchi Village and Hirono Town had recommended evacuation for areas other than Areas under Evacuation Orders designated by the national government, based on their independent determinations, these evacuation recommendations were also lifted on January 31, 2012, and on March 31, 2012, respectively.
The latest information, the current status of evacuees and the details of the Areas under Evacuation Orders in 12 municipalities are posted on the Fukushima Prefecture's portal site, “Fukushima Revitalization Information Portal Site,” and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's website, “Assistance of Residents Affected by the Nuclear Incidents (re. Evacuation Orders).”
“Transition of the evacuation zones -Explanation-,” Fukushima Revitalization Information Portal Site
https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/portal-english/en-1-3-1.html
“Assistance of Residents Affected by the Nuclear Incidents (re. Evacuation Orders)” of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
https://www.meti.go.jp/english/earthquake/nuclear/roadmap/index.html
- Included in this reference material on February 28, 2018
- Updated on March 31, 2024