South Korea shuts down 4 nuclear reactors as precaution after earthquakes

South Korea’s nuclear operator said early on Tuesday it suspended operation of four reactors at a nuclear power complex as a precaution late on Monday after two earthquakes struck the country’s southeast.

South Korea’s nuclear operator said early on Tuesday it suspended operation of four reactors at a nuclear power complex as a precaution late on Monday after two earthquakes struck the country’s southeast.

Residents gather outside their apartments after a powerful earthquake in Pohang, about 270km southeast of Seoul. (AFP Photo)

The earthquakes, of magnitude 5.1 and 5.8, occurred on Monday night near the city of Gyeongju, according to South Korea’s meteorological agency.

The 5.8-magnitude earthquake was the strongest recorded in South Korea, an official at the meteorological agency said.

Two injuries had been reported as a result of the quake, but no serious damage had been immediately reported, the agency said.

An officer from the Korea Meteorological Administration briefs about an earthquake in Seoul.

State-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co shut down the Wolsong No.1, Wolsong No.2, Wolsong No.3 and Wolsong No.4 reactors, with a combined capacity of 2,779 megawatts, an official with the operator said.

The shutdown of the four takes the number of reactors offline in the country to seven, according to KHNP website.

KHNP, owned by state-run utility Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO), operates 25 nuclear reactors in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.