The powerful earthquake in northeast Japan rocked a nuclear plant, causing a small amount of radioactive water to spill, officials said Friday, but the operator said there was no immediate danger.
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The 7.1-magnitude quake that hit offshore shortly before midnight Thursday resulted in water flowing from containers onto the floor in all three reactor buildings at the Onagawa plant, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said.
“We’re currently investigating where the water came from. The radiation levels in the wet areas are far below the level that would require us to report to authorities,” said a spokesman for the plant’s operator Tohoku-Electric Power Co.
Most seriously affected was reactor number two, where 3.8 litres (eight pints) from the spent fuel pool ended up on the floor of the operation room.
“Due to the earthquake, there were a few abnormalities… As we continue to inspect the plant, I think we will see more of these abnormalities,” said Hidehiko Nishiyama, the agency’s spokesman.
The Onagawa plant lies more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the Fukushima Daiichi facility, where workers have been struggling for weeks to ward off disaster after the March 11 quake and tsunami knocked out cooling systems.
Japan Earthquake April 7: injuries, blackout reported, but power plant fine
Apr 07, 2011 02:22 PM EDT
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Japan at 11:32 p.m. local time on Thursday in the same area as the initial March 11 9.0-magnitude earthquake. It was the largest aftershock to date.
Some injuries were reported, but no death so far, according to Japan’s government broadcaster. The earthquake also knocked off power in parts of the region.
After the April 7 earthquake hit, Japanese authorities initially put out a tsunami warning and told people along the coastline to evacuate. However, there have been no evidence of tsunamis and the warning was lifted.
At the damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant that previously leaked radiation, the earthquake has not caused any additional damage so far, according to authorities.
However, the earthquake did force workers there to be evacuated. Earlier on Thursday, authorities began pumping nitrogen into Reactor No.1 in order to reduce the risk of a hydrogen explosion.
Below are available photos from Japan that were taken after the April 7 earthquake:
Update: The April 7 earthquake has killed 2 people from Miyagi prefecture and Yamagata prefecture, and injured more than 132, according to Japan’s government. There are still no reported additional damages to the Fukushima Daiichi power plant
Hotel guests sit after evacuating to the first floor at a hotel in Oshu, Iwate prefecture, April 8, 2011. A major earthquake shook the northeast of Japan late on Thursday, and a tsunami warning was issued for the coast already devastated by last month’s massive quake and tsunami that crippled a nuclear power plant.
An employee walks out from an office room after a strong earthquake at a hotel in Oshu, Iwate prefecture, April 8, 2011. A major earthquake shook the northeast of Japan late on Thursday, and a tsunami warning was issued for the coast already devastated by last month’s massive quake and tsunami that crippled a nuclear power plant.
A man rides his bike at darkness after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Yamagata, northern Japan April 8, 2011. A major earthquake shook the northeast of Japan late on Thursday, and a tsunami warning was issued for the coast already devastated by last month’s massive quake and tsunami that crippled a nuclear power plant.
A woman walks at darkness after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, in Yamagata, northern Japan April 8, 2011. A major earthquake shook the northeast of Japan late on Thursday, and a tsunami warning was issued for the coast already devastated by last month’s massive quake and tsunami that crippled a nuclear power plant.