Tsunami Alert Issued After 7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Northern Japan

On Wednesday, northern Japan was hit with a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that has prompted a tsunami advisory warning across the eastern coast of the country.

The Associated Press reports via the Japan Meteorological Agency that the quake hit around 11:36 p.m. local time at a depth of 60 kilometers below sea level. It’s the highest magnitude earthquake to hit the country in 11 years, and matches the magnitude of the Great Hanshin quake of 1995 that killed over 6,000 and caused over $200 billion in damages.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the country is assessing the damage and is ready to launch rescue and relief efforts. Chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno cautioned civilians to be ready for potential aftershocks over the next week or so, saying, “We are doing our utmost in rescue operations and putting people’s lives first.”

The quake has left at least 2 million homes in Tokyo without power, the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) confirmed. There have been no reports of major injuries thus far. The epicenter for the quake was off the coast of the Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, which were both hit particularly hard by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake that left over 19,000 people dead and led to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster. According to the TEPCO, which operates the Fukushima site, workers are checking for any further damage to the plant.

Speaking with reporters after the quake, Matsuno said there are no abnormalities to report at other nuclear plants in the northeast of the country. The East Japan Railway Co. has confirmed most train services are suspended to carry out the required safety checks.