>a sizeable area becomes inhabitable for centuries Well no, reactors in chernobyl remained operative until 2000 ,and chernobyl is not inhabitable look at all

>a sizeable area becomes inhabitable for centuries Well no, reactors in chernobyl remained operative until 2000 ,and chernobyl is not inhabitable look at all the animals that live there , the level of radiation is low.Regarding fukushima people are already returning in evacuated zones