Government to let IAEA inspect quake-hit nuke plant

The government has decided to allow the IAEA(International Atomic Energy Agency) to inspect the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant which was hit by quake, officials said Sunday,July 22. The government had earlier told the IAEA inspection was not necessary by the nuclear watchdog for the time being, rejecting an offer by the U.N. agency.
In KASHIWAZAKI, Niigata Pref, many people who are forced to go shelters by the earthquake are worried about the safety of the nuciear power plant, but most approve reopening it. Kashiwazaki city depends heavily on the nuclear power industry. About 3,800 employees of Tepco and related companies work in Kashiwazaki and Kariwa.

from The Japan Times. Published: July 23, 2007