Abandoned Fukushima: Haunting images show nuclear-stricken town as it emerges soil tainted by power plant's radiation is being used to build roads, sparking outcry in Japan

  • Haunting images show abandoned Fukushima seven years after nuclear disaster
  • Tsunami led to three nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear Power Plant
  • Sudden evacuation of about 100,000 people left region in an eerie state of decay
  • Comes amid outrage over plans to use radiation-tainted soil to build roads in area

These haunting images show abandoned Fukushima as it emerged soil tainted by the power plant's radiation is being used to build roads.

An earthquake in 2011 sparked a massive tsunami which in turn led to three nuclear meltdowns in the  Fukushima Daiichi nuclear Power Plant on Japan's north east coast. 

With the sudden evacuation of around 100,000 people, the region has been left in an eerie state of decay and pictures show some of the many shops, amusement arcades and showrooms frozen in time after the disaster.

It comes amid anger in Japan over the Environment Ministry's plan to use radiation-tainted soil to build roads in Fukushima Prefecture.

The trial will start in the city of Nihonmatsu next month - despite fierce protests from residents. 

Tainted soil will be packed out 20 ins or more under a 600ft stretch of road in the city before being covered with clean soil and asphalt. The soil has been sitting in packed in black plastic bags in temporary storage ahead of the trial.

The row comes as a haunting collection of pictures emerged showing abandoned buildings in the area.

They were captured by London-based entrepreneur James Galbraith, 25, when he visited the area.

He said: 'The photos were taken in Fukushima, Japan, in the areas evacuated in 2011 due to radiation.

'I like exploring places where not many people can visit, places that are off limits, difficult to access, and largely forgotten about.'

In 2011, a 10-metre-high tsunami that killed nearly 19,000 people crashed into Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant.

This lead to several meltdowns, allowing harmful radioactive fuel rods and debris to escape from contained areas.

Six years after the disaster, researchers are still struggling to clean up fuel in the waters of the wasting reactors.




Mr Galbraith added: 'Many people are completely unaware that there are still many displaced people due to the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and resulting nuclear meltdown.

'Walking through these buildings shows you a moment that went down in history.

'The interiors are largely untouched since the earthquake, with items strewn across the floor that were thrown off the shelves of stores.

'The atmosphere really reminds you how fragile life is and puts a new perspective on things.

'I have been taking photos for my whole life, when I was a very young child my father was an amateur photographer and I would see his photos, and he would let me use a camera.'