JAPAN. Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture. June 6, 2017.
A house covered in wild vegetation overgrowth in the town of Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture.
Tomioka was severely affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Besides sustaining considerable damage from the earthquake, and the tsunami (which devastated the coastal area), the town was evacuated en masse on the morning of March 12, 2011, as it is located well within the 20 kilometer exclusion radius around the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
On March 25, 2013, the nuclear evacuation zone in Tomioka was lifted by the central government, and the town was re-zoned into three areas according to different levels of radiation. However, the town government elected to keep the evacuation in place for at least another four years due to the need to rebuild damaged infrastructure. In the zone with the highest radiation levels residents will not be allowed to return home at least for five years. People other than registered residents are banned from entry. This zone, which covers the northeastern part of the town, had about 4,500 people residents. The central part of the town, which used to have 10,000 residents was designated as a residence restriction zone, in which the residents could return during daytime hours but have to leave at night. The remaining zone, which mainly covers southern Tomioka had about 1,500 residents, and remaining restrictions are expected to be lifted.

(Photo by Moises Saman/MAGNUM)