As five years have now passed since the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant meltdowns began, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulation Authority on Friday stressed that regulators must firmly monitor the decommissioning of the crippled plant to ease concerns of residents affected by the event.

Addressing hundreds of fellow regulators, NRA Chairman Shunichi Tanaka said towns near the Fukushima plant are still struggling to revive their communities and former residents are constantly worried about radiation levels.

"There are many things that we can do to help them," Tanaka said.