Fukushima News 4/6/15: Scientists Detect Fukushima Radiation on North Am...

Evacuees can stay 24hours in Fukushima town
Nuclear & Energy Apr. 6, 2015 - Updated 01:10 UTC-4
Residents
of a town near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant can now stay
in their homes 24 hours a day in preparation for the lifting of an
evacuation order.
On Monday, the central government began to allow
evacuees from Naraha Town in Fukushima Prefecture to stay in their homes
at night as well as the day. The measure will remain in effect for 3
months.
After the 2011 accident at the plant, the government issued
an evacuation order for most of the town. All of about 7,500 residents
have been living away from their homes.
73-year-old Shigeru Yoshida
and his 67-year-old wife Nobuko returned home from their temporary
housing in Iwaki City, also in Fukushima. They brought in food, water
and other daily necessities, and opened their windows to let in fresh
air.
The government says it will decide when to lift the evacuation order after meeting with residents.
Many residents are voicing concerns about radiation. They also want the local infrastructure to be rebuilt.
Yoshida
said he thinks the measure, which comes 4 years after the accident,
indicates some progress. But he said the area has no medical
institutions and few shops. He said he hopes government officials will
listen to residents' opinions on how the situation can be improved.
The officials say 182 of about 2,700 households in Naraha had applied for permission to stay as of Sunday.