An interim disposal area for soil contaminated by the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant (seen at rear) is seen in Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture, in this March 3, 2024, file photo. (Mainichi/Naoki Watanabe)

The recovery of Fukushima Prefecture cannot be considered complete until the disposal of soil generated from radiation decontamination work after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant triple-meltdown is resolved.

The nuclear accident released vast amounts of radioactive material over a wide area. The decontamination efforts in residential and agricultural areas across Fukushima Prefecture resulted in the collection of approximately 14 million cubic meters of contaminated soil. This soil has been transported to interim storage facilities built in the towns of Futaba and Okuma, where the power plant is located.