Nuclear power plant remains intact after strong quake

A nuclear power plant in Southern California remained intact after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake shook the region on Sunday, authorities said.

The temblor did not result in the shutdown of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in the region, said Southern California Edison, a public electricity facility.

The nuclear plant is built to withstand a 7.0 earthquake 5 miles (8 km) away, according to San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).

The earthquake caused "low-level ground movement" at the nuclear plant, said spokesman Gil Alexander.

"The movement was not sufficient to prompt a shut-down, but it did trigger a regulatory protocol ...(and) plant personnel have begun inspections conducted in such situations," Alexander said. "Operators would be able to shut the units down without any danger to the public. Today's quake occurred several hundred miles from the facility."

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured the quake at 7.2 magnitude, correcting its previous measurement of 6.9 magnitude. The quake struck in Baja California, Mexico, southeast of Mexicali, at 5:40 p.m. (2240 GMT), according to the USGS.

The shaker rocked all of Southern California, and sent high rise buildings in Los Angeles and San Diego rocking back and forth.


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