Japan's Nuclear Plants Brace for Typhoon Hit

A model of the storms path, posted on July 8, 13:00 UTC. (Image via Japan Meteorological Agency)

Japan's Nuclear Plants Brace for Typhoon Hit

Typhoon Neoguri will likely hit one plant directly, threatens two others

Typhoon Neoguri is on track to pass directly over the Sendai nuclear power plant when it makes landfall on the Japanese island of Kyushu later Tuesday.

The Sendai plant is one of three nuclear power stations threatened by the path of the storm. The Genkai nuclear plant is also located on Kyushu, and there is another on Shikoku island, which borders Kyushu and could also be affected, Reutersreports.

Following national policy, the three plants have been shut down. However, scientists note that if the storm was any worse, those facilities would be under threat from a storm surge.

Neoguri was downgraded early Tuesday from a super typhoon, but the Japan Meteorological Agency said the storm is still packing wind gusts of up to 155 miles per hour. The JMA also warned that waves could reach as high as 45 feet.

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