Asia-Pacific

Heightened state of alert declared at Japan's nuclear plant

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-11 23:03

VIENNA - A heightened state of alert was declared at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan after a massive earthquake struck the Asian country, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Friday.

Meanwhile, Japan ordered thousands of residents near the nuclear power plant to evacuate following the earthquake that caused a problem in the plant's cooling system.

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The IAEA's Incident and Emergency Center has received information from Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), according to a IAEA statement.

The nuclear plant in Onahama city, about 170 miles (270 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo, has been shut down and no release of radiation has been detected.

The plant is just south of the worst-hit Miyagi prefecture, where a fire broke out at another nuclear plant. The blaze was in a turbine building at one of the Onagawa power plants; smoke could be seen coming out of the building, which is separate from the plant's reactor, Tohoku Electric Power Co. said. It has since been extinguished.

Another plant at Onagawa is experiencing a water leak.

Japan's nuclear safety agency said the evacuation, ordered by the local government of Fukushima, affects at least 2,800 people. It came after the government declared a state of emergency at the plant.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said both the state of emergency and evacuation order are meant to be a precaution. It was the first time Japan has declared a state of emergency at a nuclear power plant.

"We launched the measure so we can be fully prepared for the worst scenario," Edano said, "We are using all our might to deal with the situation."

In addition, the Onagawa, Fukushima-Daini and Tokai nuclear power plants were also shut down automatically, and no radiation release has been detected.

The UN nuclear watchdog said it was seeking further details on the situation at Fukushima Daiichi and other nuclear power plants and research reactors.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has declared a state of atomic power emergency after an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan's northeastern Honshu island, but denied any radiation leaks.