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Nature and EnvironmentJapan

Powerful earthquake hits Japan, tsunami warning lifted

March 16, 2022

Millions were without electricity, including in Tokyo, after the quake that struck near Miyagi and Fukushima. Fukushima's nuclear power station was luckily unharmed.

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Furniture and electrical appliance are scattered at an apartment in Fukushima
People in Fukushima shared images of their homes after the quakeImage: Kyodo News/AP/picture alliance

A tsunami warning was issued by Japanese officials on Wednesday for the prefectures of Miyagi and Fukushima following a 7.3 magnitude earthquake. The warning was later retracted.

The quake struck large parts of eastern Japan, including Tokyo, where buildings shook violently. Some two million people in the most affected areas were without power for much of the evening,  including 700,000 people in the capital.

There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties, though a high-speed Shinkansen train was derailed. Although none of the 100 passengers were badly hurt, the news was still shocking to Japanese residents due to the train's stellar safety record.

Karte - Starkes Seebeben vor der Küste Japans - EN

Officials said that the Fukushima nuclear power station was secure, though they warned residents to be wary of powerful aftershocks that could follow in the coming days.

Wednesday's tremor came shortly after the anniversary of a 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed nearly 20,000 people. That quake, which was of 9.0 magnitude, triggered one of the worst nuclear disasters in modern history.

es/aw (AP, AFP, Reuters)