Friday, February 20, 2026

how many acres of land has to be abandoned permanently in Fukushima Japan by all human beings who lived there in 2011? 930 Square miles of land

 
 
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Following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, an initial 20-kilometer radius "no-go" zone, along with surrounding areas, created a total contaminated exclusion area of approximately
930 square miles (roughly 595,200 acres or 2,400 square kilometers).
While some areas have been cleared for residents to return, large, heavily contaminated swaths of land—particularly within the 20km zone and areas to the northwest—remain largely abandoned, with some areas deemed permanently uninhabitable or requiring long-term, decades-long management.
Key Facts on Land Abandonment:
  • Initial Exclusion Zone: The immediate evacuation zone was a 20 km (12 mi) radius, which was later adjusted based on radiation levels, encompassing a total "no-go" area of roughly 311.5 square miles (nearly 200,000 acres).
  • Total Affected Area: The broader "no-entry" or contaminated area was reported to be as high as 930 square miles.
  • Significant Long-Term Loss: Despite decontamination efforts and the gradual lifting of evacuation orders in some towns (like Okuma and Futaba), significant portions remain "difficult-to-return" zones, where high radiation levels prevent permanent habitation for the foreseeable future.
  • Land Use Changes: Many former agricultural areas (rice paddies) have been replaced by storage sites for millions of cubic meters of contaminated soil removed during cleanup.

As of 2018, about 371 square kilometers (approximately 91,600 acres) remained designated as strict evacuation zones, covering 2.7% of the total land area of the Fukushima Prefecture.
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