Japan lifts Fukushima evacuation

TOKYO, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The Japanese government Friday lifted an evacuation advisory for residents living near the damaged Fukushima No. 1 power plant.

The advisory covered about 59,000 residents living in a 12- to 18-mile zone around the nuclear power plant, Kyodo News reported. While most of the residents were evacuated at one point, some have already returned to start repairing their homes.

Environment Minister Goshi Hosono said the lifting of the advisory signals the nuclear crisis set off by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami has begun to stabilize, the report said.