Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP Earthquake Damage -- July 16, 2007

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake on Monday, July 16, 2007 killed 10 people and flattened homes in northwestern Japan. It also started a fire at the seven-reactor, 8,212-megawatt Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant that burned a transformer, spilled several hundred barrels containing radioactive waste and vented radioactive waste. The story continues to unfold - here are several articles regarding that nuclear failure.

Japan Quake Causes Nuke Plant Leak, Fire

A strong earthquake shook Japan's northwest coast Monday, setting off a fire at the world's most powerful nuclear power plant and causing a reactor to spill radioactive water into the sea - an accident not reported to the public for hours.

Accidents dim hopes for green nuclear option

As concern about global warming has swelled in recent years, so has renewed interest in nuclear energy. The main reason: Nuclear plants produce no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases tied to climate change, at least not directly. . . But that was before an earthquake in Japan this week rattled the Kashiwazaki nuclear power plant.

The Earthquake that Screamed "NO NUKES!!!"

The massive earthquake that shook Japan this week nearly killed millions in a nuclear apocalypse. It also produced one of the most terrifying sentences ever buried in a newspaper. As reported deep in the New York Times, the Tokyo Electric Company has admitted that "the force of the shaking caused by the earthquake had exceeded the design limits of the reactors, suggesting that the plant's builders had underestimated the strength of possible earthquakes in the region."

Report from NIRS on earthquake damage to Japan's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP

A brief report from Nuclear Information and Resource Service on earthquake damage to Japan ’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power facility is now available on NIRS’ website, www.nirs.org We will try to update this report as information becomes available. Michael Mariotte NIRS July 19, 2007

Tokyo Electric Shares Drop to 9-Month Low After Quake

Shares of Tokyo Electric Power Co. dropped to a nine-month low on concern the company's nuclear facility in central Japan, the world's biggest, may be shut for a year after an earthquake caused radioactive leaks.

UN atomic watchdog seeks thorough probe into radioactive leak

The United Nations nuclear watchdog has called for a "thorough and transparent" investigation into the radioactive leak at the Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant after an earthquake rocked northern coast of Japan's largest island Honshu on July 16.

Japan quake not seen slowing U.S. nuclear revival

A resurgence of nuclear power in the United States likely won't be stalled by this week's earthquake in Japan that shut the world's largest nuclear plant, industry watchers said. "What would slow down development of these (U.S.) projects is environmental groups pushing back," she said. "These plants are so far away from being built. Who knows what factors could affect policy makers between now and then."

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Earthquake - Japan's Nuclear Safety Shaken to the Roots

At 10:13 am on July 16 a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck just off the coast of Niigata Prefecture on the Japan Sea side of Honshu, Japan's largest island. As a result of the quake, four reactors (units 2, 3, 4 & 7) at Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant shut down automatically. At the time, unit 2 was being started up after a periodic inspection, while the other three units (1, 5 & 6) were still shut down for periodic inspection.

Tourists spurn Kashiwazaki

Radiation fears, damaged inns spur mass cancellations

PG&E looks for lessons in Japan quake

The fault blamed for a temblor that shook a power plant in Japan earlier this month is troublingly similar to the one off SLO County’s coast near Diablo Canyon.

Profits shaken at Tepco

The financial effect of the 16 July earthquake near the Kashiwazaki Kariwa plant will grow for Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) as the seven-unit plant remains shut and it buys replacement power.

World's Largest Nuclear Plant Closed for Months

U.N. inspectors say the world's largest nuclear plant, damaged weeks ago by an earthquake in Japan, will be closed for "months or a year" while more checks are done.

Inside the nuclear plant hit by earthquake

 

We demand that the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant be closed

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa: Translation of Japanese Leaflet - By Group of Concerned Scientists and Engineers Calling for the Closure of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant

EDITORIAL: Safety of nuclear plants

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) called Thursday for new quake-resistant standards that are five times higher than current levels for its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture.