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Nuclear scare after Japan quake Nuclear scare after Japan quake
(20 minutes later)
A strong earthquake in central Japan has damaged a large nuclear power plant causing a leak of radioactive material, officials at the plant have said.A strong earthquake in central Japan has damaged a large nuclear power plant causing a leak of radioactive material, officials at the plant have said.
Water containing radioactive substances leaked into the sea and a fire broke out in one of the Kashiwazaki plant's electrical transformers. Water containing radioactive substances leaked into the sea and a fire broke out at the Kashiwazaki plant.
The reactors at the plant automatically shut down during the magnitude 6.8 earthquake. Reactors at the plant automatically shut during the magnitude 6.8 quake. Officials said only a small amount of material escaped.
At least seven people were killed and hundreds injured in the earthquake.At least seven people were killed and hundreds injured in the earthquake.
Tokyo Electric Power Company said the amount of radioactive material that leaked into the sea posed no environmental risk.
PM's visit
Several hundred homes and businesses in Niigata prefecture were destroyed, roads were cracked and several landslides buried roads.
More than 7,000 people were evacuated from their homes as aftershocks of up to 5.8 magnitude shook the area.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe broke off from election campaigning to visit the area.
He promised to "make every effort towards rescue and also to restore services such as gas and electricity".