FUKUSHIMA — An evacuation order designated as a difficult-to- return zone was lifted on Saturday for an area of Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture.
The order, put in place after the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant was lifted at 9 a.m. One of the areas affected by the order was the Yonomori district, known for its row of about 400 cherry blossom trees stretching about 2.2 kilometers. After restrictions were lifted, local people celebrated under the full bloom of the trees.
The order covered an area of about 3.9 square kilometers that was designated for reconstruction and revitalization, where the government placed priority on decontamination efforts. The area is located near JR Yonomori Station on the Joban Line and National Highway Route 6. Around 4,000 people, or more than 20% of the city's population, lived in the area at the time of the accident.
As of March 1, there are 2,580 residents of 1,143 households registered in the town. The evacuation order has been lifted for most of the city since April 2017. The restrictions have been lifted, and about 93% of the city's total area has now had restrictions lifted.