Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In July, beef from Minamisōma was found to be contaminated with radioactive cesium above the legal limit, according to the Daily Yomiuri. In March 2012, the city was divided into three zones: in the first, people were free to go in and out but not allowed to stay overnight; in the second, access was limited to short visits; and in the third area, all entry was forbidden because of elevated radiation levels that were not expected to go down within five years after the accident. On April 15, 2012 some of people of Minamisōma were able to return to their homes when the evacuation zone was reduced from 30 kilometers to 20 kilometers from the reactors, with the exception of a wide area on the western border of the city with the town of Namiie. At the time the evacuation order was lifted the centre of city was still scattered with ruins and lacked electricity and running water, while schools and hospitals remained closed. On July 12, 2016 the evacuation order was lifted for all areas of the city except the western border region with Namie; this permitted all of the remaining evacuees (with the exception of one household) to return home. In August of the same year, elementary schools and junior high schools, which has been closed since 2011, were allowed to reopen. Government Minamisōma has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 24 members. Minamisōma, together with Sōma District contributes two members to the Fukushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Fukushima 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Education Minamisōma has 16 public elementary schools and six public junior high schools operated by the city government and four public high schools operated by the Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education. Economy Tohoku Electric's Haramachi Thermal Power Station is located in Minamisōma. Transportation Railway East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Jōban Line - - - - Highway - Minamisoma Interchange, Minamisoma-Kashima Service Area and Smart Interchange Sister city relations Pendleton, Oregon, United States Local attractions Ruins of Odaka Castle National historic Sites Hayama Cave Tomb Urajiri Shell Mound Yokodaidō Steel Production Site Sakurai Kofun Daihisan Stone Buddhas Mano Kofun Cluster Izumi Kanga ruins Notes Further reading External links Official Website Cities in Fukushima Prefecture Populated