Contamination lingers near Japan nuclear plant
Some people evacuated from around Japan’s stricken nuclear power plant may not be able to return to their homes for “a long time” due to projections that high contamination levels will linger, top government officials have said.
Cabinet members said the government is considering providing additional support for evacuees, including long-term housing rather than the pre-fabricated temporary homes currently being built.
A government report projected that radiation accumulated over one year at 22 monitoring sites within roughly 12 miles (20km) of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant would be at least five times higher than the international safety standard.
The plant was damaged in March’s earthquake and tsunami.
