Quake Triggers Wave of Nuke Plant Fears

(NEWSER) - A 7.2-magnitude earthquake jolted northern Japan today, killing at least 6 people and injuring more than 140 others, the AP reports. Landslides trapped another 100 bathers at a hot springs resort, but no tsunami warning was issued. At a nuclear power plant, 5 gallons of radioactive water splashed from two pools storing spent fuel, but officials said there was no leakage outside the plant. More»

Country faces energy crunch

(NEWSER) - Japan is shutting down its last nuclear reactor Saturday, meaning a long, hot summer as the Japanese are forced to conserve a power supply that could fall 16% below demand. Oil- and gas-based power has been ramped up to ease the energy shortage—nuclear power provided one-third of the country’s electricity before the Fukushima Dai-ichi incident—but that is costing more than $100 million a day, and left Japan with its largest annual trade deficit last year. More»

Registered as magnitude 6.1

(AP) - An earthquake has rattled the Tokyo area hours after a stronger tremor caused a small tsunami on the northern Japanese coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the second earthquake was magnitude 6.1, and took place just off the coast of Chiba, east of Tokyo, at a rather shallow 6 miles below the sea surface. There was no immediate report of damage or injury from the second quake. The 6.8-magnitude tremor earlier last night caused a small swelling of water on the northern coast, including part of the region hit by last year's massive earthquake and tsunami. More»

Town of Otsuchi issued an evacuation order

(AP) - A strong earthquake shook northern Japan last night, causing small tidal changes on its Pacific coastline; no damage or injury was reported. Several towns issued evacuation orders or advisories to residents nearest the coast. A swelling of 8 inches was observed in the port of Hachinohe in Aomori, northern Japan, about one hour after the quake struck the region. The agency lifted all tsunami advisories about an hour and half later. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the tremor was 6.8 magnitude; an aftershock of magnitude 5.9 struck followed about two hours later. More»

Georgia plant gets approval to build two

(NEWSER) - It's a milestone for the nuclear energy industry: The feds today gave their blessing to a Georgia utility company to build two new reactors, the first such approval in 30 years, reports CNN . Southern Co. and its partners will build the reactors in Waynesboro, Ga., about 170 miles east of Atlanta, at a plant that already has two operating reactors. That will make the Vogtle plant the biggest nuclear complex in the US when they're up and running by 2017, notes the New York Times . More»