Japan rattled by ‘aftershock’ of 2011 earthquake; more than 100 injured

By Aaron Humes: A 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Saturday night, Japan time, struck nearly the same area that trembled 10 years ago when an earthquake and tsunami killed over 18,000 people in northern Japan. This temblor is reported to have injured more than 100 people, the BBC reports.

The quake hit off the coast of Fukushima, Japan, and was felt strongly in Tokyo, but no tsunami warning was issued. Japan’s meteorological agency (JMA) said Saturday’s earthquake was believed to be an aftershock of the massive 2011 quake. Aftershocks after a large earthquake can continue over a period of many years.

The 2011 tsunami caused a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant – the worst such incident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Saturday’s quake hit at 11:08 p.m. local time, at a depth of 37 miles in the Pacific Ocean, off Japan’s eastern coast, JMA said. Aftershocks have continued to hit the region since.

The quake caused nearly one million homes to lose power while a smaller number lost water. Train services have been halted. It also triggered landslides, with one burying a motorsport complex.

But there were no reports of irregularities at nuclear plants. “Surveys are being done at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant… We have received reports that Onagawa nuclear plant and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant are not showing any abnormality,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said.

Despite reassurances from officials, many residents on the coast evacuated their homes and headed for higher ground, Japanese news agency Kyodo reports, saying they had learned from their bitter experience a decade ago in March.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.

© 2021, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.