Tsunami warning as Japan is hit by huge 7.2 magnitude earthquake

AP
Leah Sinclair20 March 2021

An earthquake struck northern Japan generating a tsunami of one metre on Saturday.

The quake hit the coast of Miyagi Prefecture at 6.26pm (0926 GMT) and had a magnitude of 7.2 at a depth of 60km, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Tremors started just before 6:10 p.m and could be felt in Tokyo, about 400 km south of the epicentre.

The United States Geological Survey said the quake was centred 27 kilometres east of Ishinomaki at a depth of 60 kilometres, which is off the coast of the Miyagi prefecture - an area that was heavily damaged during the huge earthquake and tsunami of 2011.

Tsunami waves of up to one metre reportedly reached the Miyagi prefecture coast shortly after 6:30 p.m.

Tokyo Electric Power said it is checking the condition of the Fukushima Dai-Ichi power station.

The power station was badly damaged by the Tohoku quake in 2011 which caused a nuclear meltdown and claimed more than 15,000 lives.

Public broadcaster NHK said two hundred homes in Kurihara, Miyagi prefecture were without power and warned the public against going anywhere near the ocean.

NHK aired footage from inside its Sendai bureau showing a plaque dangling from the ceiling and shaking for about 30 seconds following a tremor.

It did not report any items falling from shelves or any immediate damage.

Tohoku Electric Power Co has also halted the Onagawa nuclear plant and is checking for any irregularities, NHK said.

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