Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Tuesday it will pay ¥600,000 each to pregnant women and children aged 18 or under who have voluntarily evacuated their homes because of the triple-meltdown crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant.
The sum will be paid, starting next month, as compensation money through last December for residents of 23 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture located outside the government-designated evacuation zones around the plant.
Many people who have voluntarily evacuated had been hoping Tepco would pay the actual costs incurred, but the utility has said that would entail a laborious application process and delay payments. (Japan Times)
