Several former residents of Futaba, the only remaining uninhabited town in Japan still recovering from effects of radiation from nuclear plant meltdowns in 2011, have returned to live for the first time since the massive earthquake and tsunami forced them out.
Authorities have declared most other areas safe and reopened them following extensive decontamination efforts over the past decade.
In Futaba, only 15 of 7,000 residents living there before the tragedy struck expressed their desire to return this week on a trial basis. A fully-fledged reopening of the town on Japan’s northeastern coast is set for June.
Futaba Mayor Shiro Izawa said the return on a trial basis “is a first step toward Futaba town’s reconstruction. I’m sure many town residents have long been waiting for this day.”
There are no medical services or enough shops. For now, the residents must go out of town to find a hospital or shop for food and other daily necessities.
Izawa promised to provide ample support ahead of the formal lifting of part of the town’s no-go zones in June.
