A team of 15 experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited Japan’s Fukushima prefecture on Monday to look into decontamination efforts in areas near a damaged nuclear power plant following the 2011 atomic disaster.

During their five-day stay, the experts were due to inspect the effects of radiation on wildlife and the management of radioactive materials from decontamination work in areas surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the Kyodo News agency reported.

Their visit is part of an agreement reached in December between the prefecture and the UN nuclear watchdog over cooperation in the decontamination work.

Miroslav Pinak, who leads the IAEA radiation safety and monitoring section, promised to provide the local Government with advice and support to make appropriate decisions.

Masao Uchibori, Fukushima Deputy Governor, told the experts that the launch of the cooperation project was “encouraging,” Kyodo reported.

Three of the plant’s six reactors went into meltdown after a tsunami swept through the complex in March 2011. About 160,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes due to radioactive contamination.

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