The Tokyo High Court on Friday ordered both the government and the operator of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant to pay damages to people who had to evacuate as a result of the crisis, but lowered the amount of compensation they are due to receive.

The ruling overturns a lower court decision that had dismissed the state's responsibility for the 2011 nuclear crisis.

The Tokyo High Court ordered the state to cover the total damages of ¥278 million together with Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., following the precedent set by the Sendai High Court last September.