Serious trouble at nuclear plant after Japan quake

The world8217;s largest nuclear power plant suffered a barrage of malfunctions such as burst pipes, water leaks and radioactive waste spillage when

The world8217;s largest nuclear power plant suffered a barrage of malfunctions such as burst pipes, water leaks and radioactive waste spillage when it was hit by a powerful earthquake in northwestern Japan, the plant8217;s operator announced today.

The admission of further trouble at the seven-reactor Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant near the epicentre of yesterday8217;s quake and delays in notifying the public triggered outrage among anti-nuclear activists and criticism from top officials.

Tokyo Electric Power Co said at least 50 cases of malfunctioning and trouble had been found at the plant, the world8217;s largest in terms of power capacity, since yesterday8217;s magnitude 6.8 quake, which killed at least nine people and injured another 1,000.

The company said it was still inspecting the plant8217;s reactors, and that it could find further problems. Four of the plant8217;s seven reacs were running at the time of the quake, and they were all shut down automatically by the plant8217;s anti-quake safety mechanism.

TEPCO spokesman Kensuke Takeuchi called the malfunctions 8220;minor troubles8221; and said they posed no danger to the outside environment or to public health.

Cases included minor fires such as one at an electrical transformer that burned for two hours after the quake, broken pipes and water leaks, including one that flushed 1,200 litres of water containing radioactive material into the sea, the company said in a statement.

For the residents, thousands of whom work at the plant, the controversy over its safety compounded already severe problems, which included heavy rains and the threat of landslides, water and power outages, and spotty communications.

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8220;Whenever there is an earthquake, the first thing we worry about is the nuclear plant. I worry about whether there will be a fire or something,8221; said Kiyokazu Tsunajima, a tailor who sat outside on his porch with his family, afraid an aftershock might collapse his damaged house.

8220;It8217;s frightening, but I guess we are used to it,8221; said Ikuko Sato, a young mother who was spending the night in a packed evacuation center near her home, which still stood but was left without water or power.

8220;It8217;s almost the summer swimming season,8221; she said. 8220;I wonder if it8217;ll be safe to go in the water.8221;

Meanwhile, nearly 13,000 people packed into evacuation centers such as schools and other secure buildings in the quake zone 160 miles northwest of Tokyo, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

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People packed school gymnasiums and community centers in the city, camping out on traditional Japanese futon mattresses and fanning themselves from the muggy summer heat.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency put the initial quake8217;s magnitude at 6.8, while the U.S. Geological Survey said it was 6.6. The quake, which hit the region at 10:13 a.m., was centered off the coast of Niigata, 160 miles northwest of Tokyo.