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Japan
AsiaEast Asia

7.1-magnitude earthquake in Japan’s Fukushima leaves thousands without power

  • The earthquake shook buildings in the capital Tokyo and elsewhere, but no tsunami warning was issued
  • About 950,000 households were hit by blackouts and there were no irregularities at the Fukushima nuclear facility

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A liquor shop worker clears the damaged bottles following an earthquake in Fukushima on Saturday. Photo: Kyodo News via AP
ReutersandAgence France-Presse
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 hit off the coast of eastern Japan on Saturday, shaking buildings and triggering widespread blackouts, but there appeared to be no major damage and no tsunami warning was issued.
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The epicentre of the earthquake was off the coast of Fukushima prefecture at a depth of 60km (36 miles), near the epicentre of a 2011 killer quake which triggered a towering tsunami and killed more than 18,000, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

The earthquake, which hit at 11.08pm local time, and shook buildings in the capital Tokyo and elsewhere. The Meteorological Agency said no tsunami warning had been issued.

Saturday’s quake was followed by aftershocks, including a 4.7 magnitude jolt, JMA said.

About 950,000 households were without power, government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told a briefing carried on public broadcaster NHK. He said there were no irregularities at two nuclear facilities, Fukushima Dai-ichi and Onagawa. Authorities were still checking at Fukushima Dai-ichi, he said.

NHK said there were no reports of irregularities at another nuclear facility at Tokaimura, in Ibaraki prefecture.

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Ambulance crew members stand at a hotel corridor following a strong earthquake in Iwaki, Fukushima. Photo: Reuters
Ambulance crew members stand at a hotel corridor following a strong earthquake in Iwaki, Fukushima. Photo: Reuters

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was called to his office, and broadcaster NHK said the government would set up a special liaison office to coordinate with affected regions.

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