S.Korean nuclear plant leaks radiation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 29, 2003

S.Korean nuclear plant leaks radiation

A South Korean nuclear power plant has leaked a small amount of radiation on Dec. 27, local TV channel YTN quoted a source as reporting Monday.

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A South Korean nuclear power plant has leaked a small amount of radiation on Dec. 27, local TV channel YTN quoted a source as reporting Monday.

The accident took place at the Yeonggwang No. 5 nuclear power plant, South Jeolla Province, some 400 kilometers southwest of Seoul, which has a 1-million-kilowatt reactor.

"We detected radiation in a water tank on last Saturday," said an official at the Yeonggwang Nuclear Power Division office. "We shut down part of the facilities and are investigating what caused the leak."

According to the official, the amount of the leak was not serious and facilities suspected of being exposed to radioactivitywere being washed off.

The official said the leakage of coolant into a pipe linked to the reactor might have caused radiation to seep out.

The power plant will be completely shut down on Monday night, he said.

The Yeonggwang No. 5 nuclear power plant is a pressurized lightwater reactor and was put into operation in February. South Korea has 18 nuclear power plants which generate some 40 percent of the total electricity the country needs.

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