THE operator of a Japanese nuclear plant admitted to lax safety inspections after a steel pipe which had not been properly inspected for 28 years exploded and killed four workers.

The faulty cooling pipe at the centre of Japan’s deadliest nuclear power plant accident had not been inspected since 1996, despite a warning last year that it was a safety threat, the plant operator said.

A NON-RADIOACTIVE steam leak killed four people and injured seven yesterday in the worst accident at a Japanese nuclear power plant.

A steam leak killed four people and injured seven others today in the worst-ever accident at a Japanese nuclear power plant.