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TOKYO (REUTERS) – An earthquake shook northeast Japan on Saturday (March 20), hitting areas devastated by the 2011 disaster, generating a 1-meter tsunami and shaking buildings.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.2, struck the coast of Miyagi prefecture at 6.26 p.m. at a depth of 60 kilometers, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.
All tsunami warnings were lifted about an hour later, broadcaster NHK said after warning the public not to approach shore.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
Tokyo Electric Power said it found no irregularities at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, destroyed by the massive earthquake in March 2011 that triggered nuclear collapses and mass evacuations. A spokesperson said there were also no irregularities at its nearby Daini facility.
There were no irregularities at Tohoku Electric Power Co’s Onagawa nuclear plant, the nuclear regulator said in an email.
Service on the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train was stopped, NHK said.
About 200 households in Kurihara city, Miyagi prefecture, were without power due to the earthquake, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.
“It was a long and very bad shaking from side to side. It was even longer than the earthquake last month, but at least the building here is fine, ”Ms. Shizue Onodera told NHK from the store where she works in the city of Ishinomaki.
“Many bottles broke on the floor,” he said. “The electricity is on.”
NHK footage from inside its Sendai office shows a plaque suspended from the ceiling shaking for about 30 seconds after the shaking. He did not report any items falling off the shelves or any immediate damage.
The earthquake could be felt in Tokyo, about 400 kilometers south of the epicenter.
Despite the warning, the JMA said a clear tsunami was not observed after the last earthquake, which was also a replica of the 2011 earthquake.
The agency added that more earthquakes could occur in the same area, particularly in the next week.
“This is an area that has witnessed active and continuous seismic activity,” said a JMA seismologist during a nationally televised briefing.
“Although the tsunami advisory has been removed, there may be some changes to the ocean surface. Please refrain from going to the coastal areas, ”he said.
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