TOKYO — A powerful earthquake struck late Wednesday night off the coast of northern Japan, triggering tsunami alerts, evacuation orders, power outages and concerns about the nuclear reactors in the area.
The 7.3 magnitude quake hit at 11:36 p.m. at a depth of 36 miles below the sea off the coast of Fukushima, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The region was devastated in 2011 by a 9.0 quake that triggered a massive tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people and caused meltdowns at nuclear plants, The Associated Press reported.
At least two deaths and dozens of injuries have been reported in the affected region, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported.
An inspection of the region’s nuclear power plants found no abnormalities, NHK reported. More than 2 million were without power, The New York Times reported, but most areas have seen power restored quickly. Small tsunamis were reported, but the advisories have been lifted, according to The Associated Press.
There is no tsunami threat to the United States, according to the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center.
A video shared by NHK captured the intensity of the earthquake:
宮城県と福島県で震度6強https://t.co/CO3JmvpVcx#nhk_video pic.twitter.com/JqHSHpWg7C
— NHKニュース (@nhk_news) March 16, 2022
Chris Broad, creator of the “Abroad in Japan” YouTube channel, described his experience being close to the epicenter of the quake.
Scariest earthquake in ten years.
— Chris Broad (@AbroadInJapan) March 16, 2022
Had an actual panic attack & thought the whole bloody building was coming down. Started with a big one that died off. Then all of a sudden a 2nd massive one that knocked half the apartment over. Fire alarms going off all around Sendai right now.
Other residents reported on their experiences.
RIP tea collection I love you pic.twitter.com/85tKcqel7x
— Sharla✨ (@heyitssharla) March 16, 2022
Didn’t get any footage because I was busy corralling the cat, but it was like this at my place too😬 pic.twitter.com/6wi8bNg6sM
— Sharla✨ (@heyitssharla) March 16, 2022
NHK shared scenes of damage from the region.
According to Google Translate, this video is from an 8th floor office building located in Sendai.
【動画】宮城 仙台市青葉区のビル8階にある事務所で大きな揺れhttps://t.co/eOFUk0DBe2
— NHKニュース (@nhk_news) March 16, 2022
午後11時半ごろ、仙台市青葉区のビルの8階にある事務所で撮影された映像です。大きな揺れが30秒ほど続いて机やいすが大きく動き、揺れの影響で棚の扉が開いたり、閉じたりしていました。#nhk_video pic.twitter.com/avm54NIidr
According to Google Translate, a glass display case was damaged at JR Natori Station in Natori City.
【動画】宮城 JR名取駅 展示物飾るケースのガラス割れるhttps://t.co/yC7QjF7LWf
— NHKニュース (@nhk_news) March 16, 2022
震度6弱を観測した宮城県名取市にあるJR名取駅で午前0時すぎに撮影された動画では駅の通路や展示物を飾るケースのガラスがほとんど割れ、床にガラスの破片が散らばっているのが確認されました。#nhk_video pic.twitter.com/YGBpcbr4g8
According to Google Translate, this is damage art of the hotel wall at exit of Fukushima JR Fukushima Station.
【動画】福島 JR福島駅東口にあるホテル壁の一部が崩れる #nhk_news https://t.co/iq5rEyPjSh
— NHKニュース (@nhk_news) March 16, 2022
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