Japan top court says government cannot be sued for Fukushima disaster

Robert Besser
21 Jun 2022, 13:04 GMT+10

Japan's top court has ruled that the government is not liable for damages to those who suffered losses during the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The disaster occurred when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off Japan's northeastern coast on March 11, 2011 set off a massive tsunami which struck the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The impact of the ruling includes protecting the government from lawsuits following future natural disasters.

TOKYO, Japan: Japan's top court has ruled that the government is not liable for damages to those who suffered losses during the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The impact of the ruling includes protecting the government from lawsuits following future natural disasters.

The disaster occurred when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off Japan's northeastern coast on March 11, 2011 set off a massive tsunami which struck the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The result was the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl and resulted in hundreds of thousands of area residents fleeing their homes.

In March, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling calling upon Tepco to pay damages of 1.4 billion yen to some 3,700 people.

"Regardless of the ruling, we will stay close to those affected by the disaster and keep on doing our utmost for Fukushima's reconstruction and revival," said Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno.

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