Environment & Energy

Japan says earthquake shook nuclear plant past safety limits

By Clyde Hughes

Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The deadly earthquake that rocked Japan on New Year's Day shook a nuclear power plant beyond established safety levels, according to a report by Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Authority.

The authority said that the buildings at the Shika nuclear power plant on the Noto Peninsula were made to sustain shaking measured at 918 Galileo units, but the Jan. 1 earthquake produced 957 Galileo units of shaking.

The authority and Hokuriku Electric Power Co., which run the plants, however, said both units of the plant were already offline before the earthquake and no significant damage was reported to the facility.

While no problems have been reported at the plant's physical structure or its operation a week later, authority head Shinsuke Yamanaka said the results must be "factored in" and safety nuclear power plant safety standards upgraded.

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