Thousands of people affected by the Fukushima nuclear crisis in Japan have filed a class action lawsuit demanding greater efforts to restore the contaminated region, as Japan marks the second anniversary of the March 11 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
About 1,650 plaintiffs filed the case with the Fukushima District Court, demanding 50,000 yen ($520) a month each from the government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) until the area is restored, their lawyers said in a statement.
“Through this case, we seek restitution of the region to the condition before radioactive materials contaminated the area, and demand compensation for psychological pains until the restitution is finished,” the statement said.
The 9.0 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan. Huge waves and crippled reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, spewing radioactive materials into surrounding areas and forcing tens of thousands of residents to abandon their homes and jobs, AFP reports.
The case aims to hold TEPCO and the government for allegedly neglecting “to take sufficient safety measures”. It also demands the government to change its pro-nuclear policy to “prevent people becoming victims in the future”.
