Nuclear waste drums lose lids in Japan quake-Kyodo

TOKYO, July 17 (Reuters) About 100 drums containing low-level nuclear waste at Tokyo Electric Power Co's (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant were knocked over by yesterday's earthquake and some lost their lids, Kyodo news agency said today.

Checks were being made as to possible effects on the environment, Kyodo added. Officials were not immediately available for comment.

The plant, the world's biggest nuclear power plant, reported a fire and a radiation leak at the facility after yesterday's quake, which killed nine people and injured more than 1,000.

REUTERS RJ VV1141