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Status of Japan nuclear plants after Thursday's quake

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-08 08:10

A major aftershock rocked northeast Japan on Thursday and a tsunami warning was issued for the coast devastated by last month's massive quake and tsunami that crippled a nuclear power plant.

No damage from Thursday's quake, measured at magnitude 7.4 by the Japan Meteorological Agency, was detected at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said, and the tsunami warning was later lifted.

Following are the most recent status updates of major nuclear plants in the affected area:

Fukushima Daiichi, operated by TEPCO

- No damage reported. TEPCO still checking whether measuring equipment is in working order.

- Workers briefly evacuated after quake but are now back after tsunami warning lifted. ?

- No change in radioactivity after quake.

- Cool-down efforts at reactors 1, 2, and 3 continuing as before.

- No impact on nitrogen-injection process at reactor No.1.

Fukushima Daini, operated by TEPCO

- No damage detected after quake.

- No change in radioactivity after quake.

Onagawa, in Miyagi prefecture, northeast Japan, operated by Tohoku Electric Power ?

- Two out of three power sources were knocked out, leaving one power source to cool the spent fuel. ?

- Cooling operations stopped, then resumed quickly. No rise in radioactivity detected.

- Onagawa still has its emergency backup generator to fall back on.

Higashidori, in Aomori prefecture, northern Japan, operated by Tohoku Electric Power

- Plant using backup generator after regular power source knocked out.

Kashiwazaki Kariwa, in Niigata prefecture, northwest Japan, operated by TEPCO

- Some reactors shut down after March 11, others continue to operate normally.

Tokai Daini, in Ibaraki prefecture, south of Fukushima

- No irregularities detected at this plant.

Rokkasho nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, in Aomori, northern Japan

- The plant has lost external power and is running on five emergency diesel generators.

Sources: Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) , public broadcaster NHK and other local media.?