Fukushima evacuees still banned from area

A temporary return home by evacuees from Japan's nuclear crisis will be delayed at least until mid-May, officials said today.

The central government previously planned to arrange the visits to their homes in a 20-km radius of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan immediately after the Golden Week holiday period ends this week.

But officials say it would be difficult to start the visits immediately after the holidays because of delays in drawing up implementation plans.

- Jiji Press