THE LATEST:
The Japan earthquake that hit just a short while ago was measured at a depth of only six miles and measured 6.8 on the Richter scale. The U.S. Meteorological Survey said the earthquake struck at 4:22 a.m. local time on Saturday (3:22 p.m. Eastern on Friday) about 80 miles east of Iwaki, a city that’s on the island of Honshu.
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The Meteorological Agency in Japan issued a tsunami advisory along the northern coast of Japan, although no tsunami is expected immediately, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Officials used “historical earthquake and tsunami data” to make that determination but also warned that earthquakes that reach this magnitude can sometimes cause localized tsunamis along coast areas that are nearby the earthquake’s epicenter. Officials issued tsunami warnings for the Pacific coast around Tohoku and separate advisories for areas along the coast in Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, reports CNN.
At this early stage, there are no reports of any damage. However, the earthquake is sure to be bringing back terrible memories for those who lost their homes in the 2011 Japan earthquake due to the meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
PREVIOUSLY:
Off the coast of Japan, an earthquake of 6.8 magnitude hit just a short while ago. The quake was centered about 100 miles east of Honshu. Officials have issued a tsunami warning for Japan’s northern shoreline in response to the quake, which hit early Saturday morning, Japan time.
Japan earthquake hits near nuclear power plant
The Boston Globe reports that the Japan earthquake hit the coast not far from the nuclear power plant that was severely damaged in an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Public broadcaster NHK reports that workers at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant are checking to see if the earthquake has caused any damage there.
Approximately 19,000 people died in the 2011 Japan earthquake, which also triggered several meltdowns at the Fukushima power plant. Even today, more than 100,000 people have been unable to return home because of worries about radiation contamination.
