A magnitude 7.4 earthquake has struck off the coast of Fukushima – the site of 2011’s devastating 9.0 quake and resulting tsunami – at Tuesday 5.59am local time (Monday 8.59pm GMT).
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake was an aftershock to the 2011 earthquake, the largest since that quake’s immediate aftershocks.
The JMA warned that another large quake could be expected within the next few days, and people in the region have been advised to “remain cautious” for the next week.
Tsunami warnings were issued for the Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, with waves at Sendai port recorded at 1.4m high. The warnings have since been downgraded, before being cancelled, although residents are still advised to avoid the shore.
At the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant, the reactor number 3 spent fuel pool pump stopped operating at 6.10am as a result of the quake. Operation resumed at 7.49am and the plant is reported to be safe and “intact”.
So far, at least people are reported to have suffered minor injuries in the quake. No deaths have been reported.
Nissan is suspending work at its Fukushima factory, while flights to and from Sendai airport have been disrupted.
Decommissioning work at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, destroyed in the 2011 quake, has been temporarily suspended.
