Fukushima: A magnitude 7.1 earthquake was felt in eastern Japan, near Fukushima

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A strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake was felt today (Saturday) off the coast of eastern Japan, near the Fukushima nuclear power plant, where a heavy nuclear disaster occurred about a decade ago as a result of a similar earthquake. At least 20 people were reportedly injured, but no significant damage was reported and no tsunami alert was issued.

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake was felt off the coast of eastern Japan, near Fukushima (Photo: Reuters)

The Meteorological Agency of Japan reported that the epicenter was reported off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, at a depth of 60 kilometers into the sea. Japanese citizens reported that the quake was also felt in the capital Tokyo, where buildings were shaking.

According to Japanese government spokesman Katzunovo Kato, there were no reports of irregularities at the nuclear facilities, but widespread power outages were reported in the country and about 950,000 households were without electricity, he said in a media briefing broadcast by NHK.

As mentioned, about a decade ago an earthquake occurred in the same area that caused the most severe nuclear crisis in a quarter of a century. The magnitude 9.1 quake, which occurred on March 11, 2011, triggered huge tsunami waves that covered large areas of the northeast coast of Japan, killing more than 18,000 people. The waves also hit the Fukushima nuclear compound, causing one of the reactors to collapse and the worst nuclear leak since Chernobyl in 1986.

Since 2015, authorities in Japan have gradually begun to lift restrictions on returning to evacuated areas due to the radioactive danger, and have embarked on extensive rehabilitation efforts that are expected to continue for many more years. Japan is one of the most seismically active regions in the world and has about 20% of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6 and above, and the fear is that another earthquake will cause new environmental damage.

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