Govt., Tepco Ordered To Compensate Evacuees
A district court in Japan has ordered the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company to compensate citizens who say they lost their livelihoods after the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
The Sapporo District Court handed down the ruling on Tuesday. The case was brought by 257 people of 78 households who fled to the northern prefecture of Hokkaido from evacuation zones and other areas after the accident.
The plaintiffs each sought 16.5 million yen, or about 160,000 dollars, for their emotional suffering caused by their loss of livelihoods. The total amount of damages sought came to about 40.7 million dollars.
At issue was whether the government was able to predict the massive tsunami that hit the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which suffered multiple meltdowns.
Another point of contention was whether Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, has paid appropriate sums in consolation money.
Groups of evacuees from Fukushima Prefecture have filed similar lawsuits nationwide. This is the seventh case in which a district court has found the government liable.
