Additional Coverage:
Japan Rocked by 7.5 Magnitude Quake, Nuclear Facilities Under Scrutiny
Japan is currently assessing the aftermath of a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck on Monday, prompting widespread inspections of nuclear facilities and triggering warnings of potential aftershocks and even larger tremors in the coming days.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced the formation of an emergency task force to expedite damage assessment, emphasizing the government’s commitment to prioritizing public safety. “We are putting people’s lives first and doing everything we can,” she stated to reporters.
The initial earthquake, which originated approximately 30 miles beneath the sea surface off Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, has resulted in at least 34 reported injuries, primarily from falling debris as buildings swayed. The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) has recorded 20 aftershocks, including a significant 6.4-magnitude tremor.
While deemed highly unlikely, the JMA has also cautioned about the possibility of an 8.0-magnitude quake and an accompanying tsunami east of Tokyo within the week.
Concerns regarding nuclear safety were immediately raised, given Japan’s history with the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi disaster, where a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami led to meltdowns in three nuclear reactors.
However, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported early Tuesday that “no abnormalities” were found at the Fukushima plant. Inspections at other nuclear sites are ongoing, with the country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority confirming a spill of nearly 120 gallons of water from a fuel cooling system at a nuclear fuel processing plant in Aomori, a city close to the earthquake’s epicenter.
In Aomori, video footage depicted plumes of smoke rising from a house, and the disaster agency confirmed one fire had broken out and was subsequently extinguished. The JMA has also advised that homes in severely shaken areas are susceptible to collapse.
All tsunami warnings and advisories for Japan’s northeastern coast were lifted early Tuesday local time after only minor waves were observed, receding from initial warnings of up to 10 feet. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed no tsunami threat to Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, or California.
Evacuation orders, which had affected nearly 114,000 people, were also lifted by Japan’s fire and disaster management agency on Tuesday.
The Aomori prefecture reported 23 injuries, including one serious, with nine injuries in Hokkaido and three in Iwate. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru announced the suspension of bullet train services between Fukushima and Aomori, as well as some highway sections, due to power outages in certain areas. Most suspended train services have since resumed, according to Japan Railways East.
Fire helicopters have been deployed to survey damage across several prefectures, including Aomori, Iwate, and Miyagi, as authorities continue to assess the full extent of the earthquake’s impact.