7.3 earthquake hits Japan, leaving 2 million without power; California safe from tsunami
7.3 Magnitude Quake Hits North Japan, Tsunami Alert Issued
TOKYO —
A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima in northern Japan on Wednesday evening, triggering a tsunami advisory and plunging more than 2 million homes in the Tokyo area into darkness.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake struck 36 miles below the sea.
The region is part of northern Japan that was devastated by a deadly 9.0 quake and tsunami 11 years ago that also caused nuclear plant meltdowns. Wednesday’s quake came only days after the area marked the 11th anniversary of the disaster in March 2011.
The agency issued a tsunami advisory for up to a 3-foot sea surge in parts of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. NHK national television said the tsunami might have reached some areas already.
The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center tweeted shortly after the quake that California and the rest of the West Coast were not in danger of a tsunami.
The Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant that suffered multiple meltdowns following the 2011 quake and tsunami that destroyed its cooling systems, said workers were checking for any possible damage.
The quake shook large parts of eastern Japan, including Tokyo, where buildings shook violently.
Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force said it dispatched fighter jets from the Hyakuri base in Ibaraki prefecture, just south of Fukushima, for information gathering and damage assessment.
More than 2 million homes were without electricity in the Tokyo region serviced by TEPCO due to the quake, the utility said on its website. The quake shook large parts of eastern Japan, including Tokyo, where buildings swayed violently.
East Japan Railway Co. said most of its train services were suspended for safety checks.
