France: Can't rule out nuclear damage in China

PARIS: France's nuclear protection watchdog said Tuesday that it did not know yet whether there had been any damage to Chinese nuclear facilities near the region hit by the devastating earthquake in western China.

Without specifying precise numbers, the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety said China's government has research nuclear reactors and others used to produce reactor fuel in Sichuan province, where the magnitude 7.9 quake struck.

The institute said "some" of the facilities were less than 60 miles from the earthquake's epicenter.

"Given the strong acceleration observed at 70 kilometers (44 miles) from the epicenter ... it is not possible at this stage to exclude damage to these installations," the institute said.

But it expressed more confidence about the state of China's four nuclear powered-plants generating electricity because all are more than 600 miles from the quake's epicenter.

"It is probable that these reactors suffered no notable damage," the institute said, but added that confirmation was needed following inspections requested by Chinese authorities.

The four electricity-producing sites — Lingao, Daya Bay, Qinshan and Tianwan — are all in eastern China.

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