- The high risks and vulnerability of nuclear power plants in geologically unstable zones were dramatically highlighted by the impact of an earthquake upon the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture on July 16, 2007. Fortified to withstand earthquakes as strong as 6.5 on the Richter scale, the plant nevertheless suffered a fire and leakage. In the 40 years since Japan initiated its nuclear power industry no major quake-linked damage to plants occurred. But in the past two years, three incidents occurred - at the Onagawa Plant (August 2005); the Shika Plant (March 2007); and the Kashiwazaki Plant. In each case the maximum ground motion was greater than seismic design criteria of the plants.
Kashiwazaki (the latest)
Posted - 01/23/2008 : 5:44:24 PM
