Leaks at Japanese Nuclear Plant Continued Undetected After Quake

[jpak]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118484761754271575.html...

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan -- Leaks at an earthquake-battered nuclear power plant continued undetected even as officials assured the public that the damage posed no outside danger, casting deep doubts on the plant's emergency measures and the response by Japan's largest power company. The indefinite shutdown of the plant also raised serious fears of a summer power shortage.

Officials at Tokyo Electric Power Co. confirmed Thursday that radioactive material was leaking as late as Wednesday night, two days after the plant suffered a near-direct hit by Monday's quake, which killed 10 people and injured more than 1,000 in Kashiwazaki, a seaside town on Japan's northern coast.

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Officials at the plant admitted they had not foreseen such a powerful tremor hitting the facility. They also repeatedly underreported its impact after it hit. After initially saying the quake had caused 50 separate types of minor damage or leaks, Tepco increased that estimate to 63.

Also Thursday, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said radioactive iodine had leaked from an exhaust pipe at the No. 7 reactor between Tuesday and Wednesday night, agency official Hisanori Nei said. He said the inspectors concluded the leak was too small to harm the environment or public health, adding the agency will continue monitoring.

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