A 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook the Fukushima coast of eastern Japan today, and it felt strong in Tokyo without Japanese authorities activating the tsunami warning.
The quake occurred on Saturday (14:08 GMT) at 23:08 local time, with an epicenter about 60 kilometers deep off the coast of Fukushima prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Both in Fukushima and in the vicinity of Miyagi, on the northeast coast of Japan, the quake reached a level of six on the Japanese scale, with a maximum of seven and more focused on the affected areas than on the intensity of the earthquake.
Other prefectures on the east coast and central Japan were also severely shaken by the quake, including the capital, where it reached level 4 on the Japanese scale.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake could cause a slight rise in sea level, although the tsunami warning was not activated.
The Japanese government has formed an “emergency team” to gather information and coordinate with local authorities “with the priority of rescuing potential victims,” executive spokesman Katsunobu Kato told reporters.
“We are reviewing the situation to see if there was any personal or material damage,” Kato added.
Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) noted that no “significant anomalies” were observed in radiation levels at the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini power plants, which are inactive and are being dismantled following the March earthquake and tsunami. 2011.
None were detected in other nuclear power plants located in other affected areas, according to the state chain NHK.
About 950,000 homes were without power after the quake in different parts of the country, according to data provided by operating companies.
In addition, several high-speed train lines (shinkansen) operating in northeastern Japan have suspended operations due to disruptions.
In Fukushima and Miyagi, several fires have been reported at the moment, one of them in a factory, as well as a landslide on a highway that could have caught cars, according to the Japanese press, which also collects a temporary balance of a dozen injured in earthquake-related incidents.