Koriyama, Fukushima, Japan (AHN) – School authorities in Fukushima started removing the topsoil from playgrounds on Wednesday. The soil was exposed to radiation leaks from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor plant.
School authorities decided to remove the surface soil because tests showed that radiation levels exceeded 3.8 microsieverts per hour at the elementary and junior high schools and 3 microsieverts at the nurseries. The Education and Science Ministry set limits at 3.8 microsieverts.
Soil will be removed at 15 elementary and junior high schools, and 13 nursery schools in the prefecture.
The removed soil will be sent to local landfills.
On Wednesday, Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the port of Minamisanriku, where more than 1,350 residents are missing or dead. This is the imperial couple’s first visit to the region, although they have been to other earthquake-affected areas in the south.
The town has about 20,000 residents. Over 3,800 houses in Minamisanriku were destroyed by the magnitude 9 tremor. About 200 residents still live in a local gymnasium.
The royal couple will visit the Iwate and Fukushima Prefectures next week.
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