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Contamination fears grow after Japanese quake

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant is pictured with fissures in the foreground yesterday that were caused by Monday's earthquake. Tokyo Electric Power Co admitted yesetrday that it had detected radioactive material leakage from reactor No. 7 at the plant, but the level was under the legal limit. PHOTO: EPA

Monday's powerful earthquake tipped over barrels of nuclear waste at a power plant and officials yesterday were investigating whether there were any radioactive leaks, a day after they said the quake spilled radioactive water into the sea.

The death toll stood at nine a day after Monday's 6.6-magnitude quake.

One person was missing and 13,000 quake victims were crowding emergency shelters as rescue workers rushed to locate survivors amid new fears of landslides.

While the quake had triggered a leak of water with radioactive material on Monday at the world's largest nuclear power plant, officials said it caused no harm to the environment.

Yesterday, however, officials were investigating a possible second leak at the Kashiwazaki- Kariwa plant, saying about 100 drums containing low-level nuclear waste fell during the quake and were found yesterday.

Some of the barrels' lids were open, said Masahide Ichikawa, an official with the Niigata Prefecture government.

A spokesman at Tokyo Electric Power Co said it was still trying to determine whether any hazardous material had spilled but said there was no effect outside the plant.

Another leak at the Kashiwazaki plant would sow further doubts about the safety of Japan's nuclear power plants, which have suffered a string of accidents and cover-ups amid deep concerns they are vulnerable in earthquakes.

"Whenever there is an earthquake, the first thing we worry about is the nuclear plant. I worry about whether there will be a fire or something. We have no information, it's really frightening," said Kiyokazu Tsunajima, who spent the first night sleeping in his car, afraid an aftershock might cause his damaged house to collapse.

The quake triggered a small fire at an electrical transformer in the plant. But it was announced only 12 hours later that the temblor also caused a leak of water containing radioactive material.

Plant officials said the water leak was harmless and well within safety standards, but the delay in notifying the public spurred concern among anti-nuclear activists and triggered criticism from top government officials.

"They raised the alert too late. I have sent stern instructions that such alerts must be raised seriously and swiftly," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters in Tokyo. "Those involved should repent their actions."

Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari said the plant must not resume operations until a thorough safety check has been conducted.

Later yesterday, Tokyo Electric said a small amount of radioactive materials cobalt-60 and chromium-51 had been emitted into the atmosphere from an exhaust stack, but posed no danger to the environment. It was unclear if that leak was caused by the quake.

Elsewhere in Kashiwazaki, refugees packed school gymnasiums and community centers. While many said their homes were intact, they still sought shelter because water and electricity had yet to be restored.

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