FUKUSHIMA, Japan: A magnitude-6.0 earthquake shook northeastern Japan’s Fukushima region on Thursday, reported by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Despite the temblor’s intensity, no tsunami warning was issued, and there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The earthquake’s epicenter, with a depth of 40 kilometers (25 miles), was also felt in Tokyo.
TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, swiftly reassured the public, stating that “no abnormalities” were detected at the stricken plant or others in the vicinity. Japan, renowned for its stringent building standards, typically ensures that structures can withstand even powerful earthquakes, given its status as one of the world’s most seismically active nations.
With approximately 125 million residents, Japan experiences around 1,500 seismic events annually, with the majority being mild tremors. The United States Geological Survey measured Thursday’s quake at magnitude 6.1, with a depth of 40.1 kilometers.
This seismic event occurred on the heels of a powerful earthquake in Taiwan, which claimed at least nine lives and left over 1,000 injured. Wednesday’s magnitude-7.4 quake inflicted substantial damage to buildings in Taiwan and triggered tsunami warnings extending to Japan and the Philippines.
Japan’s history includes significant seismic events, notably the massive magnitude-9.0 earthquake in March 2011 off the northeast coast. This disaster triggered a devastating tsunami that claimed around 18,500 lives. Additionally, the Fukushima nuclear plant suffered three reactor meltdowns, leading to Japan’s worst post-war disaster and the most severe nuclear accident since Chernobyl.
The aftermath of the 2011 catastrophe incurred an estimated cost of 16.9 trillion yen ($112 billion), excluding the ongoing hazardous decommissioning of the Fukushima facility, a process expected to span decades.
