The Fukushima towns frozen in time: nature has thrived since the nuclear disaster but what happens if humans return?
Fifteen years after a tsunami caused the Fukushima nuclear accident, only bears, raccoons and boar are seen on the streets. But the authorities and some locals want people to move back
TL;DR
- Fifteen years after the Fukushima nuclear accident, evacuated areas are now inhabited by wildlife such as bears, raccoons, and wild boar.
- Authorities are attempting to persuade former residents to return and are considering dedicating land to nature.
- Radiation levels in some areas, particularly mountainous forests, remain elevated, with radiocaesium found in trees and wildlife.
- The clean-up operation involved removing millions of cubic meters of contaminated topsoil, but did not include the large forested areas.
- Some individuals, like Norio Kimura, who lost family in the tsunami and nuclear disaster, aspire to return to their former homes.
- There is a debate about controlling the population of wild animals, particularly the prolific and damaging wild boar.
- Some experts suggest that limiting human use of certain areas could benefit nature, but there is little political or public interest in creating wildlife havens.
- Plans are being considered to potentially designate interim storage sites for contaminated soil as nature conservation areas after 2045.
- Some evacuees are pushing for the preservation of schools and other buildings as historical reminders of the disaster and its impact.