Massive 7.4-magnitude earthquake jolts Japan, tsunami alert issued
Japan earthquake: A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday as authorities issued an alert for tsunami and urged the residents to stay indoors.
The earthquake struck with its epicentre in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 10 km, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Authorities warned that the largest tsunami waves were expected to hit Iwate Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, and Hokkaido.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said an emergency task force had been set up and urged people in affected areas to move to safer locations. Bullet train services in Aomori, at the northern end of Honshu, were suspended following the tremors, according to Kyodo News.
Japan is among the most earthquake-prone nations in the world, experiencing tremors frequently. It lies along the Ring of Fire, a region known for intense seismic and volcanic activity, and accounts for roughly 20% of the world’s earthquakes measuring magnitude 6.0 or higher.
There are currently no operational nuclear power plants in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, though utilities like Hokkaido Electric Power Co and Tohoku Electric Power Co maintain several shut-down facilities there. Tohoku Electric said it is assessing any impact of the quake and tsunami on the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant.
- With inputs from agencies
