A LEADING Japanese seismologist warned the country was in danger of a major “nuclear catastrophe” four years ago, but resigned from an advisory panel after his concerns were ignored.

Failure to follow procedure was to blame for the latest leak from a nuclear power station damaged in this week’s earthquake in north-western Japan, a top government official said today.

A top power company official defended safety standards at an earthquake-ravaged nuclear plant in Japan today, even as the government pressed for more details about radioactive leaks.