Tsunehisa Katsumata, Top Executive in Power Plant Meltdown, Dies at 84

Published On Nov 1, 2024, 12:35 PM

Tsunehisa Katsumata, former chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), has passed away at the age of 84. He was at the helm during the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, which resulted in the meltdown of three reactors and the evacuation of 160,000 people. Katsumata faced ongoing legal challenges related to the disaster, including both criminal and civil litigation. Despite being acquitted in previous trials, a lawsuit seeking damages from him and other executives remains pending. The legacy of the Fukushima disaster continues to complicate Japan's nuclear energy efforts, as the plant has not yet been fully decommissioned.