The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster forced many residents to evacuate their homes, with over 10,598 reported deaths occurring in evacuation zones without a return to their hometowns. As reported by Asahi Shimbun, the figures were compiled from responses gathered by the newspaper from various municipalities, revealing that this number corresponds to about 14% of the pre-disaster population of around 76,000. This continuous high level of fatalities indicates an ongoing humanitarian concern that stems from the aftermath of the disaster.

The report details that the highest number of deaths recorded in a single year occurred in 2011, the year of the earthquake and tsunami, with 786 fatalities. Subsequent years have witnessed a steady annual count of around 700 deaths linked to the nuclear disaster. The municipalities most affected include Futaba and Okuma, which host the nuclear plant, along with neighboring Namie and Tomioka. Collectively, these four areas account for approximately 80% of all reported fatalities in evacuation sites, highlighting the concentrated impact of the disaster and the challenges of returning home.

Additionally, significant factors contributing to the ongoing situation include delayed timelines for residents' return, as the areas remained uninhabitable for extended periods. Construction of new residential amenities and the availability of essential services such as shopping, healthcare, and eldercare have been insufficient in facilitating a return to normalcy. As a result, the resident population in these towns has only diminished to about 10% of its original size. This persistent displacement and loss of life stress the importance of addressing the needs of those affected and ensuring adequate support for restarting lives in the wake of such disasters.