Japan: Nuclear plant's cooling restored

Tokyo --

Cooling systems were restored for four fuel storage pools at Japan's tsunami-damaged nuclear plant, more than a day after a power failure halted the supply of fresh cooling water and raised concerns about the safety of the plant, which still relies on makeshift equipment.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said the cooling system at the last pool at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant was repaired early Wednesday. It said pool temperatures were well within safe levels and the reactors were unaffected.

Tepco spokesman Yoshikazu Nagai said workers were still trying to determine the cause of the cooling failure, which began when a brief power blackout hit the plant Tuesday evening.

About 50 workers in hazardous materials suits and full-face masks were mobilized to fix the cabling to three switchboards were suspected of involvement in the problem.

A huge earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, caused extensive damage to the plant. Major radiation leaks at that time contaminated air, water and soil around the plant, causing 160,000 residents to evacuate.

The latest power failure was a test for Tepco to show if it has learned anything from the disaster. Tepco, which has faced repeated cover-up scandals, was slammed by local media Tuesday for waiting hours to disclose the blackout.

Company spokesman Masayuki Ono acknowledged the plant is vulnerable.

"Fukushima Dai-ichi still runs on makeshift equipment, and we are trying to switch to something more permanent and dependable," he said. "Considering the equipment situation, we may be pushing a little too hard."