The evacuation order issued for a Japanese town near the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant has finally been lifted - more than four years after the 2011 tsunami and earthquake, and the resulting nuclear disaster.
The approximately 7,400 residents of Naraha were evacuated following the March 11th disaster. The town was the first of seven municipalities to receive such an order due to radioactive contamination.
Naraha residents have been allowed to return to the town with certain restrictions for some time, including being allowed to stay overnight with permission since earlier this year. The evacuation order has now been fully lifted.
However AFP reports that only around 10% of the residents are expected to return, amid concerns about radiation and the reluctance of many residents - especially younger people - to return to the community after having been forced to relocate elsewhere.
In a televised address, Yukiei Matsumoto acknowledged there would be a long road to recovery, but said "the true reconstruction of our town will begin now. Let us work together for the creation of a new Naraha".
Naraha is located around 20km away from the Fukushima reactors. Returning residents will be given personal dosimeters to measure radiation levels, while filtered water supplies will be monitored around the clock.
