The city of Tokyo was partially plunged into darkness after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Wednesday evening, March 16. ISSEI KATO / REUTERS
Eastern Japan was rocked Wednesday evening, March 16, by a massive 7.3 magnitude earthquake, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which issued a tsunami warning for much of the northeast coast.
According to the JMA, the epicenter of the earthquake, which occurred at 23:36 (15:36 in Paris), was located off the coast of the Fukushima department, and the epicenter was at a depth of 60 kilometers. This agency issued a one meter high wave warning.
The shock, which was felt long and hard, including in Tokyo, cut off power to more than two million homes, including nearly 700,000 in the Japanese capital, according to operator Tepco.
Tokyo, March 17, 2022. AP
Checks at Fukushima
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that the government is trying to gather information to assess the situation.
“We will do our best to help the victims. [par le séisme] and convey information correctly. »
The JR East railway company, serving the northeast of Japan, for its part, announced significant disruptions to its network.
Tepco said it was conducting inspections of its facilities, including the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged by a giant tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9 earthquake in 2011.
The Japanese Nuclear Regulatory Authority said it had not found any abnormal situations at the Onagawa power plant in the Miyagi Department adjacent to Fukushima.
Japan is still haunted by the Kukushima disaster 11 years ago, which left more than 18,500 people dead and missing and more than 165,000 forced to leave their homes due to the risk of radiation.
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