Earthquake in Japan Kills 4, Injures 97

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit the northern Japanese shore of Fukushima at 11:36 p.m. local time on March 16. Four people were killed, and the area was left without electricity for several hours. Although the coast experienced a minor tsunami, the low-risk tsunami caution was removed early Thursday. The earthquake affected the same area of Northern Japan that was hit by a 9.0 earthquake and tsunami 11 years ago. Nuclear reactors melted down due to the fatal tsunami, releasing large amounts of radiation and rendering some parts of the region uninhabitable until now. While addressing a parliamentary session on March 17, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed that four people perished during the earthquake and another 97 were injured. According to Kyodo News, a man in his 60s died after falling from the second floor of his house while attempting to evacuate, and a man in his 70s suffered a heart attack. Early on Thursday morning, The Japan Meteorological Agency withdrew its low-risk tsunami warning for the coasts of Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures. In Ishinomaki, some 390 kilometers (242 miles) northeast of Tokyo, tsunami waves measuring 30 centimeters (11 inches) reached the shoreline. Scientists estimated the quake’s depth was 56 kilometers (35 miles) below sea level. Footage of the quake showed the walls of a department store building crumbling to the ground and windows shattering on the street. The footage also revealed a damaged apartment building with appliances and furniture smashed on the floor. Several roads became impassable because of cracks and water from broken pipes. The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings that runs the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, where the atomic reactors leaked in 2011, said that they did not experience any unusual activity during the quake. The company said it was placed on high alert by the metrological department a few days before the earthquake occurred. Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority confirmed there was a fire alert at the turbine building just after the powerful quake, but no actual fire was witnessed. The nuclear reactor is set to be decommissioned. Over 2.2 million homes were temporarily left without power, including some parts of Tokyo. However, electricity was restored in most areas by morning. According to Tohoku Electric Power, a local electric utility provider, only 37,000 homes in the hardest-hit areas were still without power on Thursday. The earthquake was felt in most parts of eastern Japan, including Tokyo, where structures were violently shaken. According to the company, the majority of East Japan Railway Co.’s train services were halted for safety checks. Later, some local trains resumed service. Long lines formed outside the main train stations as commuters waited for service to resume late Wednesday, but trains in Tokyo returned to normal service Thursday morning. The earthquake caused an express train to derail between Miyagi and Fukushima, but there were no reported injuries. Prime Minister Kishida cautioned the public through Twitter to prioritize their safety. Hirokazu Matsuno, the chief cabinet secretary, said that the government was doing everything possible to assess the damage. “We are doing our utmost in rescue operations and putting people’s lives first,” he said. Matsuno pleaded with residents in the affected areas to be cautious of major aftershocks for approximately one week.