US nuclear agency announces safety review of reactors

Washington: The United States of America's Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Wednesday it would launch a two-pronged review of American nuclear power plant safety even as Japan struggles to contain damage inflicted on its Fukushima nuclear power plant by an earthquake and a follow-on tsunami.

The US regulator called for an agency task force to be set up to conduct "both short- and long-term analysis of the lessons that can be learned from the situation in Japan," the NRC said in a statement.

"Our focus is always on ensuring the health and safety of the American people through our licensing and oversight of plants and radioactive materials in this country," NRC chairman Gregory Jaczko said.

"Examining all the available information from Japan is essential to understanding the event's implications for the United States."

The crippled Fukushima nuclear park northeast of Tokyo has been leaking radiation, though not serious enough to cause mass evacuations, and remains a potent threat to public safety till brought under full control.

It has suffered a series of explosions and fires since being hit by the earthquake and tsunami and has leaked enough radiation for food and water supply to be mildly affected in parts of Japan.