A COURT has ruled that Fukushima nuclear operator Tokyo Electric was responsible for a woman’s suicide following the March 2011 disaster and must pay compensation.

    It was a landmark ruling that could set a precedent for other claims against the utility.

    The civil suit by Mikio Watanabe claimed that Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc. (TEPCO) was to blame for the July 2011 death of his wife, Hamako, 58, who set herself on fire after falling into depression. The district court in Fukushima ruled in favor of Watanabe, a court official told reporters. Kyodo news reported that TEPCO was ordered to pay 49 million yen (US$472,000) in compensation. Watanabe had sought about 91 million yen in damages.

    The court decision is the latest blow for the utility, which was bailed out with taxpayer funds in 2012 and expects to spend more than US$48 billion in compensation alone for the nuclear disaster.

    (SD-Agencies)