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Is Fukushima Safe Now?

Published in Fukushima Safety Status 2 mins read

While significant progress has been made in recovery and decontamination efforts, Fukushima is not entirely safe across its entire prefecture; most areas are now considered safe for human habitation, but specific zones remain restricted.

Current Safety Status in Fukushima

The majority of the Fukushima prefecture is now deemed safe, having undergone extensive decontamination efforts. Environmental radiation levels in many areas, including towns within 20 kilometers of the former power plant, are reported to be within safe limits. This indicates that for a large portion of the region, the immediate physical danger from radiation has largely receded, allowing for return and recovery.

Restricted Areas and "No-Go Zones"

Despite widespread decontamination, complete safety has not been achieved everywhere. A small but significant portion of the prefecture, specifically 2.4 percent, still remains designated as a "no-go zone." These areas are typically restricted due to higher residual contamination or ongoing complex recovery operations, and they are not considered safe for general habitation or unrestricted access.

Population Recovery and Affected Towns

Even in areas where radiation levels are within safe limits, the social and demographic recovery is still an ongoing challenge. Some towns that were severely impacted by the disaster, such as:

  • Futaba
  • Okuma
  • Soma
  • Odaka

While radiation levels in many of these towns are now considered safe, they largely remain virtually ghost towns. This highlights a distinction between environmental safety and the full return of communities and normal life, indicating that comprehensive recovery involves more than just radiation levels.

Summary of Safety Status

The current safety status of Fukushima can be summarized as follows:

Area Type Current Safety Status Remarks
Most of Fukushima Prefecture Safe Radiation levels within safe limits.
Towns 20km from Power Plant Background radiation within safe levels Physical environment largely decontaminated.
Designated "No-Go Zones" Not safe; restricted access Comprises 2.4% of the prefecture due to residual contamination.
Affected Towns (e.g., Futaba, Okuma) Physically safe, but virtually uninhabited ("ghost towns") Social and demographic recovery is still a long-term process.