nuclear-news

Death of the original Fukushima emergency cleanup leader

Masao Yoshida Dead: Former Chief Of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Dies At 58
HUFFINGTON POST, By MARI YAMAGUCHI 07/09/ 13, TOKYO — The nuclear power plant chief who led the life-risking battle to stabilize the cripple Fukushima reactors when they were spiraling into meltdowns two years ago has died of esophageal cancer. He was 58.

Masao Yoshida died Tuesday in a Tokyo hospital, Tokyo Electric Power Co. spokesman Yoshimi Hitosugi said. TEPCO officials said his illness was not related to radiation exposure.

Yoshida was in charge of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant when the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami knocked out its power and cooling systems, causing reactor meltdowns and massive radiation leaks.

Recalling the first few days when three reactors suffered meltdowns in succession, Yoshida later said: “There were several instances when I thought we were all going to die here. I feared the plant was getting out of control and we would be finished.”….http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/masao-yoshida-dead_n_3565387.html

July 11, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general