Nuclear scare after Japan quake
Clouds of smoke poured from the Kashiwazaki nuclear power plant
|
A strong earthquake in central Japan has damaged a large nuclear power plant causing a leak of radioactive material, officials at the plant have said.
A small amount of water containing radioactive substances leaked into the sea, officials said, and a fire broke out at the plant in Kashiwazaki.
At least seven people were killed and hundreds injured in the earthquake.
Several hours later a second earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck in the sea off Kyoto in western Japan.
Tokyo Electric Power Company said the small amount of radioactive material that leaked into the sea posed no environmental risk.
Reactors at the plant automatically shut during the magnitude 6.8 quake.
clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk