Magnitude 7.3 earthquake rocks Japan: Tsunami warning for Fukushima

A large temblor was recorded early Saturday morning, Japan time, off the country's east coast.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.3 struck Saturday morning off Japan's east coast, the US Geological Survey said. Japan's emergency agencies declared a tsunami warning for the region that includes the crippled Fukushima nuclear site.

Japan's Meteorological Agency raised a 1-meter (3-foot) tsunami warning for a long stretch of Japan's northeastern coast, including Fukushima. It put the magnitude of the quake at 7.1. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not post warnings for the rest of the Pacific.

There were no immediate reports of damage on land.

The quake hit at 2:10 a.m. Saturday Tokyo time (1710 GMT) about 290 kilometers (170 miles) off Fukushima. Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the Fukushima plant, ordered workers near the coast to move to higher ground.

The tremor was felt in Tokyo, some 300 miles (480 kilometers) away.

All but two of Japan's 50 reactors have been offline since the March 2011 magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami triggered multiple meltdowns and massive radiation leaks at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, about 250 kilometers (160 miles) northeast of Tokyo. About 19,000 people were killed.

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
The Christian Science Monitor was founded in 1908 to lift the standard of journalism and uplift humanity. We aim to “speak the truth in love.” Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions. Join us in this mission by subscribing.
QR Code to Magnitude 7.3 earthquake rocks Japan: Tsunami warning for Fukushima
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2013/1025/Magnitude-7.3-earthquake-rocks-Japan-Tsunami-warning-for-Fukushima
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe