InsideJapan News Network

The United Nations nuclear body has cleared Japan's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, following an earthquake in July 2007.

Despite the seismic episode measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) decided that the quake did not affect the safety of the nuclear plant in any significant way.

Although the physical effects of an earthquake can vary, they can include fires, ruptures in the ground, landslides and tsunamis.

"Concerning the state of the plant, basically this mission confirmed that we did not see at the present time significant damage to the safety-related parts," said Philippe Jamet, head of the installation safety division at the IAEA.

Mr Jamet made his comments to reporters in Tokyo on February 1st.

Since the quake occurred, the plant - which is based in the country's Niigata Prefecture - has remained closed.

Japan is located in an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire on account of the frequency of earthquakes affecting the region.



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