Note: The last fact sheet was dated April 15, 2011.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
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On April 22, the Government of Japan (GoJ) designated the 20-km evacuation zone surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi plant as off limits to unauthorized personnel, with plans for the Japan Self-Defense Forces to help relocate people currently remaining in the area. To finalize the new designation, the GoJ is planning an organized temporary return of evacuees to their homes, in which one person per household would be allowed to return for two hours. However, evacuees from within a 3-km radius of the plant would not be permitted to return.
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The March 11 earthquake and tsunami have resulted in more than 14,000 deaths and left more than 12,000 people missing, the GoJ reported on April 22. The natural disasters also damaged or destroyed nearly 326,000 buildings and 3,700 roads.
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The number of people staying in evacuation centers continues to decrease, with nearly 131,000 people remaining in centers as of April 22. More than 7,000 people have left evacuation centers since April 15.