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Fukushima Nuclear Worker Dies In Mudslide

Fukushima Nuclear Worker Dies In Mudslide

A worker at the Japanese nuclear plant devastated by the 2011 tsunami has died after being buried in a mudslide.

The man, in his 50s, had been working near a storage area at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

He was already unconscious when he was dug out and taken to a hospital.

He could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead three hours later, said Tokyo Electric Power Company, the utility that operates the plant.

Company spokesman Masayuki Ono told reporters: "Some danger is always involved. We are deeply sorry."

Three reactors went into meltdown and exploded after the tsunami struck on March 11, 2011, damaging the plant's cooling system.

Thousands of workers, wearing masks and suits to guard against radiation, are involved in the cleanup and decommissioning which is expected to continue for decades.

While some have collapsed from heat and illness, this is the first fatal accident involving a plant employee since two workers went missing after the tsunami hit the plant - they were later found dead.

The man had been carrying out ordinary building work in a hole in the ground when mud and pieces of concrete collapsed on him, Tepco said.

He was employed by a subcontracting firm that supplies labour to Tepco. Workers' exposure to radiation is monitored and they must stop when they reach the annual limit.

Six workers have died while working at the plant over the past three years since the tsunami struck on March 11, 2011, including three from heart attacks and one from leukemia, but none related to radiation exposure.