TOKYO – A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Saturday off the coast of Japan’s Fukushima prefecture, which was home to one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters for almost a decade.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake – which it initially said was a magnitude of 7.1 – occurred at 23h08 local time (9h08 eastern time), at a depth of 34 miles. Fourteen aftershocks have been recorded, he said, adding that a tsunami warning was not issued.
The earthquake was also felt in the capital of Japan, Tokyo.
“There were no reports of anomalies in any of the nuclear facilities,” Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told a news conference. “Everything is normal.”
Checks are still being made to determine the number of injuries, he said, asking people not to venture outdoors and prepare for aftershocks.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a separate news conference in early Tokyo that almost 850,000 families were left without power in areas around Tokyo and northern Japan.
“Where the tremor was felt most strongly, there is a greater risk of structural collapse and landslides,” a spokeswoman for the Japan Meteorological Agency told the press in Tokyo. Adding that people should be cautious about the tremors.
Fukushima became synonymous with nuclear disaster in March 2011, when the area was hit by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake – the strongest in Japan’s history. A tsunami soon followed, leaving more than 15,000 dead and 2,500 still missing. .
The deadly water wall hit the walls of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, interrupting the power supply and causing the melting of three nuclear reactors, sending radioactive particles into the air. It will take decades to safely shut down the factory.
Space is also running out to store 1 million tons of water – the equivalent of 400 Olympic swimming pools – which must be pumped by the reactor to keep the fuel cool. Although the water has been treated to remove most of the dangerous radioactive components, traces of tritium remain.
Kato said the plant was being inspected, but “there was no concern about a damage-causing tsunami” and “no anomalies” had been reported at the site. Investigations are continuing to ensure that there is no structural damage, he added.
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Tokyo Electric Power Company, which operates the plant, also tweeted that it had checked its facilities and “no abnormalities” had been detected.
In a sign of rebirth, Fukushima was due to host parts of the Summer Olympics scheduled to take place in Japan in 2020. However, the games were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the most seismically active areas in the world. Japan is responsible for about 20% of world earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.
Arata Yamamoto reported from Tokyo and Adela Suliman from London.
Reuters contributed to this report.
