Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
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July 16, 2007

Powerful Quake Strikes Northwestern Japan; 7 Dead, 700 Injured
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1829567:A6F02AD83191E16065DF4817479B536C9574F7DCC14957C0 Hundreds of
buildings collapsed in the morning quake and its aftershocks A strong
earthquake has hit northwestern Japan, killing at least seven people
and causing a small radiation leak at a nuclear power plant.

Officials at the Kashiwazaki Kariwa plant say the earthquake sparked a
fire at the site, which led to water containing radioactive material
leaking into the Sea of Japan. They say the radioactivity level of the
water is within safety levels and poses no danger to the environment.







A rescuer walks outside collapsed houses following a powerful quake
that hit Japan's northwest coast in Kashiwazaki, 16 July 2007

About 800 people in northwestern Japan are suffering from injuries
from the 6.8 magnitude quake that struck Monday  just off the coast,
southwest of Niigata City.

The earthquake and its aftershocks caused hundreds of buildings to
collapse and made buildings sway in Tokyo, 250 kilometers away.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has interrupted a campaign stop to
visit the disaster zones. Niigata prefecture's governor has requested
help from Japan's Self Defense Forces.

Tens of thousands of people have lost access to utilities, including
gas, electricity and water.

Earthquakes are common in Japan because the country lies at the
junction of four of the tectonic plates that move just beneath the
earth's surface.  About 20 percent of the world's most powerful
earthquakes take place in the region.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.




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