Japan earthquake: Office rocked by 7.2 magnitude tremors
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The powerful earthquake rocked Japan’s main island at 9.09am GMT today. According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, the tremor struck at a depth of 37 miles (60km). A tsunami warning has now been issued for the east coast of Honshu.
“Hazardous tsunami waves” are possible along the coast up to 186 miles (300km) from the earthquake’s epicentre.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said: “Persons located in threatened coastal areas should stay alert for information and follow instructions from national and local authorities.”
According to Stephen Stapczynski, a Bloomberg Business reporter stationed in Singapore, the earthquake struck near Miyagi Prefecture, home to the Onagawa nuclear reactor.
He tweeted: “One meter tsunami expected on the Miyagi prefecture coast.”
In a follow-up tweet, he said: “Tohoku Electric is checking status of Onagawa nuclear plant. The facility is currently in cold shutdown.”
On March 11 this year, Japan observed the 10th anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake, which killed tens of thousands of people in 2011.
The earthquake caused widespread devastation on Honshu Island and led to the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
The good news is the Onagawa nuclear reactor was shut down 10 years ago after the Tohoku earthquake.
The plant sat close to the earthquake’s epicentre and experienced strong shaking and flooding.
However, the plant’s reactors withstood the disaster and were not overwhelmed, unlike the Fukushima plant.
A 2012 inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency determined the plant was “remarkably undamaged” by the earthquake.
Kurumi Mori, a Bloomberg reporter based in Tokyo, said today’s earthquake was felt in the capital.
She tweeted: “Another one. Magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck in northeastern Japan.
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“Small tsunami advisory issued in Miyagi prefecture.
“Felt the shake in Tokyo too but not as strong as last month #津波注意報”
In another tweet, she said tsunami waves have likely already reached Miyagi‘s Ishinomaki port.
This is a breaking story. More will follow.
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