Japan recognizes death from radiation exposure at Fukushima nuclear power plant



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For the first time, Japan acknowledged that the death of a worker at the Fukushima nuclear power plant was due to radiation exposure. The plant was destroyed by a tsunami and earthquake about seven years ago.

The earthquake struck the region in March 2011 and had a magnitude of 9.0. It triggered a massive tsunami that killed nearly 18,000 people. The tsunami also caused one of the worst nuclear disasters in the world by destroying the nuclear power station and causing the radiation to fall. The cooling systems at the plant on Japan's northeastern coast have failed, leading to leakage of radioactive material.

The nuclear problems in Fukushima have not yet been solved. Image Credit: TK Kurikawa / Shutterstock

The nuclear problems in Fukushima have not yet been solved. Image Credit: TK Kurikawa / Shutterstock

Last week, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced that the 50-year-old man, who died of lung cancer, had succumbed mainly to radiation exposure and decided that his family had to be compensated. The man in question was working in Japan's nuclear power plants. He had worked at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO). He worked there twice after the 2011 earthquake wearing protective masks and suits. Her cancer was diagnosed in February 2016. The ministry heard from radiologists and other experts in the field before announcing that the person's family was to be compensated.

Four other workers in Fukushima also suffered from diseases caused by exposure to high levels of radiation after the merger. This man was the first to die from radiation exposure, according to the ministry. After the collapse of the power plant, more than 160,000 people had to leave their homes near or around the region for fear of radiation exposure. There were hundreds of deaths when these people and their families were displaced from the area. These were not, however, directly caused by radiation exposure.

At present, Tokyo Electric is facing several court cases concerning the compensation of families of people affected by the disaster. According to speculation in 2016, TEPCO could pay a total compensation of $ 200 billion to families affected by the disaster.

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