SUCH– A strong earthquake took place on Saturday night off the northeast coast of Japan, shaking the cities of Fukushima, Miyagi and other areas, but there are no tsunami threats, authorities said.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake had a magnitude of 7.3, an increase from the preliminary magnitude of 7.1.
The Tokyo-based power company said there were no irregularities at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, which suffered a fission 10 years ago after a strong earthquake and tsunami.
No irregularities were also reported from other nuclear power plants in the region, such as those at Onagawa or Fukushima Dai-ni, government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told reporters.
Tokyo Power added that about 860,000 homes had no electricity as a result of the quake, but the service was gradually restored, according to Kato.
Kato said there was no danger of a tsunami after the quake, adding that some trains in northeastern Japan had suspended service while authorities assessed other damage.
Images from the Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV showed parts of a building wall that had fallen to the ground and pieces of glass were scattered in a store. The products fell off the shelves due to the earthquake, NHK said. Aerial footage of the television station showed a section of highway blocked by a landslide in Soma, a city in Fukushima prefecture.
Kato explained that there were several reports of minor injuries, including that of a man who was hit by an object that fell during the earthquake.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the quake had its epicenter about 55 kilometers (34 miles) below the seabed, adjusting the location of the previous estimate to 60 kilometers (37 miles).
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga went to his office immediately after the first reports of the earthquake and a crisis center was set up on the spot.
“We will continue to respond, giving priority to human lives,” Suga told reporters Sunday morning.
The quake affected southwestern Tokyo.