Japan Admits Greater Nuclear Leak
The radioactive water leak at an earthquake-damaged nuclear plant in northern Japan was 50 percent bigger than previously announced, but still below danger levels, the power company running the facility said today.
The water leaked into the Sea of Japan after Monday’s 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook the seven-reactor Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. After reviewing data, Tokyo Electric Power said today that leak was actually 1.5 times the amount previously announced.
The mayor ordered the plant be shut down until its safety could be confirmed after a long list of problems — including radiation leaks, burst pipes and fires — came to light.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world’s largest nuclear plant in power-output capacity. Signs of problems after Monday’s quake came first not from officials but in a plume of smoke that rose when the quake triggered a small fire at an electrical transformer.
It was announced only 12 hours later that the temblor also caused a leak of about 315 gallons of water containing radioactive material. Officials said the leak was well within safety standards. The water was flushed into the sea.
Date: July 17, 2007
Article: Japan nuclear leak 50% bigger than reported
Reference: Boston Herald