Japan nuclear evacuation households to receive £7,500 compensation

The Japanese government ordered the embattled operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to offer payouts to the tens of thousands made homeless by the ongoing crisis.

Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said it would give an initial one million yen to each family living around the radiation-affected Fukushima Daiichi power station. Residents who were ordered to evacuate the initial 12 mile zone around the plant will be eligible, as well as many more from a further six mile band who were advised to stay indoors.

The payment will also cover people in communities further afield who have this week been told to prepare for evacuation because of worries over the effects of long-term exposure to radiation from the overheating reactors.

The company estimates payouts to the approximately 50,000 households covered by the plan will cost around 50 billion yen (around £367 million).

Banri Kaieda, the trade minister, said the government had intervened to order Tepco to make the payments.