Nuclear reactor shut down in Japan

A nuclear reactor was shut down in central Japan due to coolant leakage today, but there were no fears of radioactive contamination…

A nuclear reactor was shut down in central Japan due to coolant leakage today, but there were no fears of radioactive contamination of nearby areas, officials said.

The leakage was discovered by a guard at the No. 2 nuclear reactor of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant in Hamaoka, some 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of Tokyo, officials said.

The accident occurred just a day after the company resumed operations at the reactor.

It had been closed for a minor change in the cooling system since November, when the plant's No. 1 reactor, which had a similar system, was closed because of a coolant pipe problem.

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Minor radioactivity was detected from 15 operators who sought to stop the latest coolant leakage at the plant, but it was later found to be below warning levels, officials said.

Japan relies on some 50 nuclear reactors to provide about one-third of its electricity. A string of minor accidents, including coolant and oil leaks, have hit its nuclear industry.

AFP