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 KASHIWAZAKI, Japan (AP) - The mayor ordered that a nuclear power plant hit by a strong earthquake be shut down Wednesday until its safety could be confirmed after a long list of problems — including radiation leaks, burst pipes and fires — came to light.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world's largest nuclear plant in power output capacity. Signs of problems after Monday's quake came first not from the officials, but in a plume of smoke that rose up when the quake triggered a small fire at an electrical transformer.
It was announced only 12 hours later that the magnitude 6.8 temblor also caused a leak of about 315 gallons of water containing radioactive material. Officials said the water leak was well within safety standards. The water was flushed into the sea.
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