To more appropriately erase a residual image, regarding a method and apparatus for reading radiation image information, wherein the radiation image information recorded on a storage type phosphor sheet is read, thereafter, the storage type phosphor sheet is irradiated with erasing light, so as to erase the residual image left on the sheet.

After irradiating the storage type phosphor sheet with the erasing light, the amount of the residual image left on the storage type phosphor sheet is detected, and the operation of irradiating with the erasing light and the operation of detecting the amount of the residual image are repeatedly performed until the detected amount of the residual image becomes equal to or below a prescribed threshold.

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