Japan's quake-hit nuclear plant ordered shut

KASHIWAZAKI, JAPAN: Authorities on Wednesday ordered the world's largest nuclear plant to stay shut indefinitely after Japan's deadly earthquake, as its operator revealed a radiation leak was worse than thought.   

The sprawling Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant suffered a small radiation leak and dozens of other problems in Monday's 6.8 Richter-scale quake, whose epicentre was just nine kilometres (five miles) away.   

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the plant, said water that leaked into the sea was 1.5 times more radioactive than it initially estimated. But it said the level still did not pose a health risk.   

TEPCO president Tsunehisa Katsumata said there was "no doubt" that the earthquake was stronger than the plant was designed for, but he said there were no serious problems with the nuclear reactors.   

He earlier changed from his usual business suit to a plant worker's blue uniform to visit the site northwest of Tokyo. "We regret what happened and will strive to make this a power plant that is safe and we can be proud of," he said on the sidelines of the one-hour visit to the facility.   

Kashiwazaki Mayor Hiroshi Aida summoned the TEPCO president and banned him from reopening any of the plant until it is confirmed safe. Katsumata bowed deeply before the mayor, saying: "I apologise from the bottom of my heart for causing tremendous concerns and nuisance."   

The plant's operations have been suspended since the earthquake, which killed nine people, injured more than 1,000 more and sent thousands of people to shelters.  The controversy began to take on an international dimension as Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, called for transparency.   

"Clearly, Japan needs to go into a full investigation of the structure, the systems, the components of the reactor to make sure that we learn the necessary lesson from the earthquake," the International Atomic Energy Agency chief said on a visit to Kuala Lumpur.   

Japanese researchers were also looking into whether a break in the earth's crust that caused the quake may stretch under the seaside plant.  "We cannot deny the possibility" it sat on an earth fault, said Osamu Kamigaichi with the earthquake division of the meteorological agency.   

The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who faces tough elections later this month, has gone on the offensive over the nuclear scare. Chief government spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki demanded that power companies "explain things clearly enough for ordinary people to understand."   

"I want them to make announcements honestly and without any delays," Shiozaki told reporters in Tokyo. The government was taking applications to build temporary homes for people as relief workers focused efforts on providing food and other care for the elderly, considered the most vulnerable.   

But patience was tested at the shelters. Sachimi Inomata, 37, said her four-year-old daughter didn't want to use the toilets. "She cries that it smells," Inomata said. "I wonder why there are the same inconveniences everytime a big earthquake hits Japan. They must know from past experiences what most evacuees want."   

Housewife Yoshiko Aizawa, 63, watched television reports about the nuclear plant from her shelter.   

"No matter how old you are, accidents at the nuclear plant are the most dreadful thing to people," she said. "I'm particularly worried about the effects on my young grandchildren."