#Radioactive Holidays in Japan: Volunteers Clean Out Sludge in the Side Drain in Former "No-Entry Zone" in Minami Soma, #Fukushima

Deja vu. Groundhog Day. As if nothing nuclear happened last year. What am I doing here, writing a blog about the nuclear accident and radiation contamination? What accident? What contamination?

NHK reports many volunteers gathered in Minami Soma City's Odaka District for the Golden Week holidays for the cleanup work after the March 11, 2011 earthquake/tsunami. Wearing flimsy masks and regular clothes, the volunteers removed debris from inside the house and scooped out the sludge from the side drain.

Odaka District is within 15 kilometer from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, and until April 16, 2012 it was inside the "no-entry zone".

And now? NHK and the volunteers interviewed don't even mention "radiation" or "nuclear accident". All is well in Minami Soma. Stop worrying about these people. They say the cumulative annual radiation exposure (external) in most of Odaka District will be less than 20 millisieverts, and therefore not a problem.

From NHK News (5/4/2012):

先月、原発事故に伴う警戒区域が解除された、福島県南相馬市の地区に、連休を利用して大勢のボランティアが入り、震災から１年以上たっても残されたままになっている、がれきの片づけを進めています。

Using the Golden Week holidays, many volunteer workers have entered a district of Minami Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture where the "no-entry zone" designation was lifted last month, and are clearing the debris that is still left more than one year after the March 11, 2011 disaster.

福島第一原発からおよそ１５キロにある南相馬市の小高区は、先月１６日、原発事故の警戒区域が解除されましたが、がれきの撤去や家屋の修復が遅れていて、震災から１年以上がたった今でも、壊れた住宅や津波で流された車などがそのままの状態で残されています。

The "no-entry zone" designation was lifted from Odaka District of Minami Soma City, about 15 kilometers from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, on April 16. However, there is still disaster debris to be removed and the houses to be repaired. Even after more than 1 year since the disaster, the damaged houses and wrecked automobiles from the tsunami are left unattended.

現場には、連休を利用してボランティア活動を行おうと、全国からおよそ８０人が集まり、津波で被害を受けた家の住民から説明を受けて、家財道具を運び出したり、側溝にたまったヘドロをかき出したりしていました。

There were about 80 volunteers from all over Japan for the GW holidays at this location. After being instructed by the homeowner whose house was damaged by the tsunami, they carried out household items and scooped out the sludge in the side drain.

家の片づけを手伝ってもらった男性は、「家財道具の中には使えるものもあるので、こうしたボランティアはとてもありがたいです」と話していました。

The homeowner said, "There are some household items that we can still use. We really appreciate the volunteer work like this."

東京から初めてボランティアに参加した男性は、「平日はなかなか来ることができないので、連休を利用して参加しました。実際に来て、まだまだ復興が進んでいないと実感しました」と話していました。

A man who came as a volunteer from Tokyo for the first time said, "I cannot come on weekdays, so I decided to participate using the GW holidays. Now that I've seen it myself, I feel the recovery is still far away."

ボランティアをあっせんしている団体によりますと、南相馬市では片づけなどの人手が足りない状態が続いているということで、団体では引き続き募っていくことにしています。

According to a group that organized volunteers, there is a shortage of manpower to do the cleanup. The group will continue to recruit more volunteers.

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