Tens of thousands of households were left without electricity this Thursday morning, 11 hours after the strong earthquake that shook Japan, with the still provisional report of the victims talking about at least four dead and more than a hundred injured.
Many transport connections – roads, rails – were cut in half in the northeastern part of the archipelago.
Authorities and companies, from semiconductor manufacturers to major automakers, are still trying to assess the damage from the 7.4-magnitude quake that struck shortly before midnight Wednesday (local time). Problems in supply chains will make things even worse internationally in the production of mobile phones, various types of electronic devices and cars.
The earthquake reminded many the disaster of 11 March 2011 in the same area. Traffic on high-speed Xinxen trains has been suspended until recently, and at least one motorway has been closed for inspections.
Parts of the facades of buildings fell on streets, while in some areas the electricity supply remains cut off.
Some 24,270 households served by the Tohoku company continued to be without electricity in the morning, although the company assured that in most cases the electricity supply will be restored during the day.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the death toll from the quake had risen to four, with another 107 injured, several seriously. He also stressed that the authorities will remain vigilant for the next 48 to 72 hours for the possibility of strong aftershocks.
The vibration, which was initially estimated to be 7.3 degrees but later its magnitude revised to 7.4 by the Japan Meteorological and Seismological Service, recorded at 23:36 (local time) at sea off Fukushima Prefecture. The focal depth was 60 km.
The 2011 catastrophe, the anniversary of which was celebrated last week in the country, claimed 18,000 lives.
A tsunami alert was issued after yesterday’s quake but was canceled early this morning. An increase in sea level has been reported in some areas, however so far no serious damage has been recorded anywhere.
The 2011 earthquake and tsunami had led to destruction at the nuclear power plant Fukushima Daiichi. Yesterday’s quake did not cause any damage to any of Japan’s nuclear power plants, although authorities said a fire alarm was triggered in one of the building’s damaged buildings.
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