DATE=12/22/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=JAPAN / NUKE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257388
BYLINE=STEVE SHAYMAN
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO: One of the three Japanese workers exposed to a 
massive dosage of radiation from September's nuclear 
accident at Tokaimura, near Tokyo, has died.  Steven 
Shayman reports from Japan's capital that the death 
has prompted calls for the curtailing of the country's 
nuclear energy program.

TEXT: Doctors announced that the September 30th nuclear 
accident -- the nation's worst -- claimed the life of 
35-year old Hisashi Ouchi late Tuesday.

Mr. Ouchi has been in critical condition and his 
chance for survival was weak from the start.

Mr. Ouchi was the first person to die of radiation 
exposure in a nuclear accident in Japan.  He and two 
co-workers were injured when they sidestepped safety 
procedures and illegally used buckets to pour uranium 
into a tank, setting off a self-sustaining nuclear 
reaction.  

One of the other workers was discharged from the 
hospital Monday, while a third remains under doctors' 
care, although his condition is not life threatening. 

In addition to Mr. Ouchi and the two others, at least 
66 people, mostly workers at the plant, were exposed 
to high levels of radiation in the accident.  More 
than 20 others who volunteered to contain the accident 
were also exposed, while thousands of local people 
were made to stay indoors or were evacuated.

The worker's death rekindled opposition to Japan's 40-
year nuclear power program, because it comes in the 
wake of a series of smaller-scale accidents and cover-
up scandals.  The Japan office of the Greenpeace 
environmental group is urging Japan to revise its 
nuclear policy, and to cancel a controversial plan to 
develop plutonium-producing reactors.

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi expressed condolences to 
the dead worker's family.  But he refused to back down 
from planned expansion of Japan's nuclear program, 
vowing only to strengthen nuclear safety measures and 
find ways to prevents further accidents.

Meanwhile, Japanese police plan to step up their probe 
into the criminal liability of the plant operator, J-
C-O, and its parent company Sumitomo Metal Mining 
Corporation.  Police raided Sumitomo facilities last 
week to gather evidence. (signed)

NEB/SS/GC/FC    






22-Dec-1999 06:08 AM EDT (22-Dec-1999 1108 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.