IAEA inspection of nuclear power plant safety in Japan

UN inspectors have faulted Japan for underestimating the risk of adevastating tsunami on its crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. But theypraised its overall response to the crisis as exemplary.

The preliminary report by a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency says the tsunami hazard was also underestimated at several other nuclear facilities in Japan. It calls for experts worldwide to learn from the disaster to avert future accidents.

The report says Japan's crisis underscores the value of disaster-proof emergency centers onsite to protect workers, and to provide a safe command headquarters for response management.

Micheal Weightman, IAEA Team Leader, said, "There are different extreme hazards around the globe. What you have to do is look at what's around your country, and design things to withstand those hazards for your country. And I'm sure Japanese government and technical experts will look to see how they can provide better protection against the tremendous forces of tsunamis that hit Japan."

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