Cleanup Victims’ Kin to Be Compensated

Families of people who died while cleaning up spilled oil off Japan’s west coast will each receive about $8,200 in compensation, the government said. The announcement came soon after reports of a fifth death that may be related to cleanup efforts--a 68-year-old heart attack victim who died after a full day cleaning up the oil. Thousands of fishermen, firefighters and others are helping the coast guard clean up an estimated 1.2 million gallons of fuel oil spilled from a Russian tanker that broke in two Jan. 2. The volunteers have been scrubbing rocks, scooping up the gummy oil and hauling it away. Authorities will investigate all deaths that appear spill-related and decide which to compensate, officials said.