Japanese protest nuclear reactivation

OI, Japan, July 2 (UPI) -- Workers Monday took steps to reactivate the nuclear power plant in Oi, Japan, the first such effort since the Fukushima disaster, despite protests.

Kansai Electric Power Co., owners of the nuclear plant, said the first action was to set off a sustained fission chain reaction. They said they hoped to begin transmitting power by Wednesday, The Japan Times reported.

The reactor was restarted despite hundreds protesting outside the plant Sunday, blocking the main road from the plant to Oi. Residents said they fear another nuclear accident will occur and have begun planning evacuation strategies. Kansai Electric and the city of Oi produced videos describing the most effective evacuation procedures.

All of Japan's 54 nuclear power plants were ultimately shut down following the massive March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that created a crisis at the Fukushima power plant.