Following quake, Japan invites IAEA team to assess nuclear plant

After receiving an invitation from Japan, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced today that it will send a team of experts to the Asian country which was rocked by a powerful earthquake on 16 July.

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei welcomed the invitation to jointly examine the current condition of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, located on the northern coast of Japan’s largest island Honshu.

He noted that this invitation is crucial for identifying lessons learned which could potentially have implications for nuclear safety worldwide.

The exact timing of the visit will be decided in consultation with Japanese authorities.