Residents in northeastern Japan were clearing debris from businesses and homes, following a strong earthquake that triggered a landslide on a highway, damaged some buildings and bullet train lines, and left thousands of people without power.
The magnitude 7.3 quake shook areas in Kukushima and Miyagi prefectures, which are prone to earthquakes and suffered a powerful earthquake 10 years ago that triggered a tsunami and a core meltdown at a nuclear power plant.
More than 120 people suffered injuries, mostly minor, from falling objects and cuts from stepping on broken glass. Three people were in serious condition, but there were no reports of deaths, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said.
Tokyo Electric Power Co., the company that manages the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant affected by the March 2011 disaster, indicated that water used to cool the fuel rods had been spilled due to the earthquake, although there were no leaks radiation or other irregularities.
The earthquake did not cause a tsunami because the epicenter was deep, 55 kilometers (34 miles) below the ocean.
The quake was considered a replica of the magnitude 9.1 earthquake in 2011, said Noriko Kamaya, a spokesman for the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Power had been restored by Sunday morning, although some train lines were still out of service. The bullet train on the north coast would remain suspended until Monday due to damage to East Japan Railway Co. facilities, according to the company.
Images broadcast on television and broadcast on social media showed boxes, books and other objects scattered on the floors. In the city of Soma, in Fukushima, the roof of a Buddhist temple collapsed.
Workers were clearing a major coastal highway connecting Tokyo with northern cities after a major landslide. Other roads were cut by rocks.
The powerful earthquake less than a month before the 10th anniversary of the 2011 triple disaster was an ominous reminder of the tragedy for residents of the area.
Experts warned of more aftershocks. Many residents spent the night in evacuation centers, where tents were erected as part of the protection measures against the coronavirus.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister responsible for economic and fiscal policy, expressed his empathy for those affected.
“The government will continue to do everything it can to respond,” he said.
Troops were also mobilized to bring water to some areas.
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