Japan to open part of nuke evacuation zone

TOKYO (KABC) -- The Japanese government plans to open areas inside the evacuation zone around the leaking nuclear power plant.

Starting this weekend, people who live in the least contaminated towns will be allowed to return home for the first time in over a year.

There were 100,000 people evacuated when the earthquake and tsunami struck on March 11, 2011. Only about 16,000 of them are being allowed back in. The towns of Kawauchi and Tamura will reopen starting Sunday, and Minamisoma in mid-April.

The rest are still waiting for the area to be further decontaminated and for infrastructure to be restored.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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