Japanese government held liable for first time for negligence in Fukushima

Court rules government should have used regulatory powers to force nuclear plant's operator to take preventive measures

A court in Japan has ruled that negligence by the state contributed to the triple meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in March 2011 and awarded significant damages to evacuees.

Although courts have awarded damages arising from the disaster in other cases, Friday's ruling is the first time the government has been held liable.