Gov’t cancels part of nuclear disaster drill at Genkai plant 

September 4, 2017

GENKAI, SAGA PREF.- The Japanese government canceled part of a comprehensive disaster drill at Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s  Genkai nuclear power station, which started on Sunday morning, following a nuclear test conducted by North Korea the same day.

Following the nuclear test, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's declaration of a state of emergency at his office in Tokyo and a meeting of relevant cabinet ministers, both planned in the afternoon as part of the drill, were canceled.

Other items in the drill, including evacuation of local residents, were continued.

The drill, assuming that a serious accident has happened at the plant in the town of Genkai, Saga Prefecture, southwestern Japan, will be held through Monday, with the participation by some 6,500 people, including officials of the Cabinet Office, the Nuclear Regulation Authority and relevant local governments, as well as residents around the power plant. The nuclear plant is currently offline. Jiji Press