FUKUSHIMA, Japan, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The man who has led efforts to stabilize Japan's earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant stepped down Monday and was hospitalized with an undisclosed illness.
Although Masao Yoshida, 56, did not disclose his illness Monday, he told plant workers doctors detected it during a recent checkup and advised him to "concentrate on the treatment," ABC News reported.
Yoshida spearheaded the efforts to stabilize the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant the past nine months. The 12-mile radius around the plant is still considered uninhabitable, contaminated with high levels of radiation.
Plant operator Tepco said it could not release the amount of radiation to which Yoshida had been exposed, citing privacy concerns.
Takeshi Takahashi, who is currently in charge of nuclear power plant operations at Tepco's headquarters, will take over for Yoshida.
