A strong earthquake struck northern Japan on Saturday, shaking buildings even in Tokyo and triggering a tsunami advisory for some of the north coast. There were no direct reports of damage or injuries.
The US Geological Survey determined the strength at magnitude 7.0 and depth at 54 kilometers (33.5 miles). Shaking started just before 6:10 pm
The earthquake took place off the coast of Miyagi prefecture, in the country’s rugged northeast, which was badly damaged in the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an advisory report for a tsunami up to 1 meter high off Miyagi prefecture immediately after the earthquake, but lifted it about 90 minutes later. The tsunami may have already reached parts of the Miyagi coast, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said.
Officials there said there were no immediate reports of damage.
The strong temblor caused a temporary blackout in some areas and suspended bullet train services in the area, NHK said.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority said no anomalies were found at nuclear power plants in the region, including the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which suffered from meltdown during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Akira Wakimoto, a crisis management officer in the city of Tome, Miyagi prefecture, said he was in his apartment when the earthquake hit and felt his room shaking for a long time.
In a coastal town of Ofunato, Shotaro Suzuki, a hotel worker, said there was a temporary power outage and the elevators were short, but power was restored and there were no other problems.
“Our guests seemed worried at first, but they have all returned to their rooms, and our facility appears to be fine,” Suzuki told NHK.
In mid-February, another powerful earthquake in the region killed one person and injured more than 180, though most of the injuries were minor. The earthquake damaged roads, railways and thousands of homes. It also caused minor damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
A spokesman for the Japan Meteorological Agency, Noriko Kamaya, said in a news conference that Saturday’s earthquake is considered an aftershock of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake in 2011. Kamaya urged people to be careful and stay away from the coastline due to possible high waves.