Gateway

Issue date: 6/17/08 Section: Special Section

The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house was one of the most damaged areas of Kansas State University's campus. The house lost a large portion of its roof Wednesday night. (courtesy - Matt Binter) [Click to enlarge]

UWIRE - A tornado that ripped through Kansas State University's campus Wednesday night damaged a building housing a nuclear reactor, officials said in a statement Thursday.

The reactor is stable and was shut down Wednesday before the tornado hit, according to an alert filed with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

"There is no danger from the reactor, even if the roof and walls had been damaged," said Mo Hosni, head of K-State's department of mechanical and nuclear engineering, in a statement on the school's Web site.

Officials estimated storm damages would exceed $20 million. According to an announcement on the school Web site, the Wind Erosion Laboratory was destroyed.

"The damage on campus is extensive," Tom Rawson, vice president for administration and finance, said in a statement. "Roofs have been damaged or torn off, windows have been blown out in many buildings."

School officials said there were no reported injuries and the damage was primarily on the school's south campus.

Classes were canceled Thursday as officials worked to restore power and clean up debris.

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