Nuclear agency, TEPCO knew tsunami could trigger power loss in 2006

TOKYO. May 15. KAZINFORM  The government's nuclear safety agency and Tokyo Electric Power Co. as of 2006 had acknowledged the risk of a tsunami-triggered power loss at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, agency officials said Tuesday.

According to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency officials, the awareness was shared at a study session that was launched in response to the 2004 Sumatra quake and tsunami in Indonesia and joined by several utilities, Kyodo reports.

A paper compiled in August 2006 suggested that participants recognized that ''there is a possibility that power equipment could lose functions if a 14-meter-high tsunami hits the Fukushima plant, with seawater flowing inside the (reactor) turbine buildings.''

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