Second Japanese Reactor Catches Alight

Japan's Hokkaido Electric Power (HEPCO) Tomari nuclear power plant, on it's northern most island, has reported a minor fire in yet another blow to the country's nuclear industry, following the devastating earthquake eight days ago.

Despite no injuries, or danger of a radiation leak being reported, it is the second such incident to put Japan's nuclear industry under the spotlight.

Japan's Kyodo news agency says investigators had suspected foul play in the partly constructed plant, with damage to electrical wiring. However, no formal comment from the operator has been made.

It is not the first incident the plant has reported – in 1995 four staff were burned following a fire in a radioactive waste tank and in 2003 a reactor was shut following a leak in a coolant tank.

The news comes as the Asahi Shimbun in Japan reports that ten of Japan's 11 nuclear power plant operators, which together look after 55 plants, are not equipped to fight fires in their facilities.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry released a report recently which showed firefighting teams were not kept on around the clock.

The report was carried out following the fire at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility on 16 July at the time of an earthquake.

It is reported that UN nuclear monitoring inspectors will inspect the plant, the world's largest, as it improves its safety measures and undergoes repairs to recommence operations.

By Penny Jones