Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Friday it has paid ¥39.1 billion in compensation to agricultural organizations in 17 prefectures over damages caused by the Fukushima nuclear disaster, bringing the total sum paid out to farmers so far to ¥88.9 billion.
Councils consisting mainly of agricultural and dairy cooperatives in the three worst-hit prefectures of Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi, as well as Hokkaido, Chiba and 12 other prefectures, have demanded a total of ¥111.3 billion in compensation on behalf of their farmers. Tepco did not provide details on individual sums paid to each organization.
On the remaining claims, Tepco said in a statement that it will pay the compensation once it finishes verifying the applications. The utility has been harshly criticized over its slow processing of compensation claims.