Evacuation orders for "Designated Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas" lifted all Fukushima Iitate Village

On May 5, some evacuation orders were lifted in the difficult-to-return zone in Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture, where evacuation orders had been issued due to the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, including the "Designated Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Zone," where the national government and villages are taking the lead in decontamination and infrastructure development. As a result, all evacuation orders for the "Designated Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Zones" set for six towns and villages around the nuclear power plant have been lifted.

Due to the effects of the nuclear power plant accident, an evacuation order was temporarily issued for the entire area of Iitate Village, and the Nagamud district in the south has been designated as a difficult-to-return zone where access is severely restricted even 12 years after the accident.

Approximately 17% of these areas have been designated as "Designated Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Zones" where the national government and villages are taking the lead in decontamination and infrastructure development, and the evacuation order was lifted at 5 a.m. on May 1.

In addition, evacuation orders for parks outside the adjacent base area were lifted at the same time on the condition that no one lives there.

The gates of the road leading to the base area were opened under the watchful eye of residents, and the sign that said "Difficult-to-return zone" was removed.

Seizo Shigihara, 68, who wishes to return to the Nagamud area, witnessed the lifting of the evacuation order and said, "The past 12 years have been a long time, and I was not sure whether to return to my hometown, but I want to live in my hometown and am preparing for it."

As a result, all evacuation orders for the "Designated Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Zones" set for the six towns and villages around the nuclear power plant have been lifted, and the reconstruction of these areas and the areas where evacuation orders still remain will become an issue in the future.