Japan Halts World's Largest Nuclear Plant Mere Hours After Restart

Japan's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the world's biggest, was restarted and then swiftly stopped again on Tuesday. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), said the shutdown was triggered by an automated safety system. This system activated when a fire alarm sounded in a turbine building. TEPCO stated the reactor itself is "stable." The company also confirmed there is no "radioactive impact outside" the facility. No injuries were reported, and the alarm did not indicate an actual fire. The incident is a significant setback. The restart was a major step in Japan's return to nuclear power over a decade after the Fukushima disaster. The plant had been idle since 2012 due to strict safety rules. Investigators are now working to determine the exact cause of the alarm. Full operations cannot resume until the issue is resolved and regulators give new approval.