A massive 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Fukushima, Japan, at around 6:00 am local time today according to the US Geological Survey. This has caused a tsunami warning to be issued for most of the nation’s northern Pacific coast.
The warning reports there may be waves of up to three meters (10 feet) high. Residents are being ordered to evacuate.
Fukushima prefecture is north of Tokyo, which felt today’s earthquake and rattled buildings. This is the location of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant that was destroyed in 2011 by the powerful tsunami that followed a huge offshore earthquake. The nuclear plant is checking for changes, but so far nothing unusual has been reported and there has been no change in radiation levels.
Power outages have been reported in the Fukushima and Niigata prefectures, and Japan Railways has suspended operations of several bullet trains eastern Japan.
There is no tsunami threat for Hawaii, the Philippines, or New Zealand.
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