11 February 2016, 05:42 GMT
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – According to the BBC, the sum of the compensation will amount to 30 million yen ($265,000) for financial losses and health. Thousands of people living outside of the 12-mile evacuation zone chose to leave their homes and businesses out of fears of radiation.
In 2011, the Fukushima nuclear power plant was hit by a 46-foot tsunami, triggered by a 9.0 magnitude offshore earthquake.
The tsunami caused three of the plant's six reactors to melt down and radioactive materials leaked into the sea and air. Some 140,000 people were evacuated from settlements near the plant, many of whom have been unable to return to their homes due to high levels of radiation. Officials say 40 years will be necessary to return the area to normal radioactivity, a figure highly disputed.
