07.07.19 Quake city orders nuclear plant to stay closed

clipped from english.people.com.cn A Japanese nuclear power plant was ordered to stay closed until safety was assured after an earthquake caused radiation leaks. The leaks into the ocean and atmosphere from the plant in the northwestern city of Kashiwazaki, near the epicenter of the 6.8 magnitude quake, have renewed fears about the safety of Japan's nuclear industry. The nuclear power sector, which supplies almost one-third of Japan's electricity, has been tarnished by years of cover-ups of accidents and fudged safety records. Senior officials, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, have criticized TEPCO, saying it had been slow to issue information and risked undermining public trust in the nuclear industry. Akira Fukushima, deputy director-general of Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, said he could not rule out the possibility that an active faultline extended under the plant. Source: China Daily/agencies