A strong earthquake struck northern Japan on Saturday, shaking buildings even in Tokyo and causing a tsunami warning for part of the north coast. No injuries or injuries were reported immediately.
The U.S. Geological Survey placed the force at magnitude 7.0 and depth at 54 kilometers (33.5 miles). The shock began shortly before 6:10 p.m.
The quake focused on the coast of Miyagi prefecture, in the steep northeast of the country, which was badly damaged during the huge 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued advice for a tsunami up to 1 meter high for Miyagi prefecture immediately after the earthquake, but lifted it about 90 minutes later. The tsunami could have already hit parts of the Miyagi coast, Japanese public television NHK said.
Officials said there were no immediate reports of damage.
The strong quake caused a temporary blackout in some areas and suspended bullet train services in the area, NHK said.
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority said no anomalies had been detected in the region’s nuclear power plants, including the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was damaged during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Akira Wakimoto, a crisis management official in Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture, said it was in his apartment when the earthquake occurred and he felt his room shake for a long time.
In a coastal town of Ofunato, Shotaro Suzuki, a hotel employee, said there was a temporary blackout and that the elevators were stopped briefly, but power has been restored and there have been no other problems. .
“Our guests seemed worried at first, but everyone has returned to their rooms and our facilities look good,” (asterisk) Suzuki told NHK.
In mid-February, another strong earthquake in the region killed one person and caused more than 180 injuries, although most of the injuries were minor. The quake damaged roads, train lines and thousands of homes. It also caused minor damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
A spokesman for the Japan Meteorological Agency, Noriko Kamaya, told a news conference that Saturday’s quake was considered a replica of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake in 2011. Kamaya urged people to be careful and keep it moved away from the coast due to possible high waves.