California Nuclear Plants Can Handle Earthquakes

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Operators at California's two nuclear plants say their facilities can withstand a higher magnitude earthquake than scientists predict could ever strike the plants.

They said Monday that the San Onofre and Diablo Canyon plants can handle earthquakes of magnitude up to 7 and 7.5, respectively.

Americans have become increasingly concerned about domestic facilities in the wake of fears of nuclear crisis in Japan.

Earthquakes and a tsunami have damaged at least two nuclear complexes in Japan and officials have declared states of emergency at six of the country's 55 reactors.

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