The first cherry blossoms burst out on trees at an abandoned weather station in Onahoma, Fukushima prefecture, Japan last week, reported Asahi Shimbun in a touching story. The station was not in use since 2008, but its cherry trees were always the first to blossom in the region. The station itself was destroyed in last year’s tsunami. But the lovely trees survived. Here’s a picture:
Later, it was reported that in Tomioka town 2000 trees lining an avenue have come into bloom creating the famous “pink tunnel” seen all over Japanese towns and cities in this season.
But there is nobody to see the Tomioka cherry blossoms because it lies in the 20 km dead zone around the disaster stricken Fukushima nuclear power station. All residents of Tomioka were evacuated last year after the nuclear disaster following the tsunami. They now live in makeshift camps outside the zone, along with 150,000 other evacuees.
The local municipalty allowed some reporters, heavily protected by radiation resistant gear, to visit the 2.5 km long avenue. Here’s the picture from Japan Times:
Although residents are pressing for early return, scientists are still unsure how long it take for all the radioactive fallout to dissipate enough for it to be safe for humans.
Over 350 pet dogs and cats that were abandoned by fleeing residents and survived the tsunami have been rescued from the region says Japan Times. Another report said that visiting technicians were surprised to find dozens of cows roaming around in the area. They appear to have survived both nature’s anger and man’s follies.