A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake hits Japan’s Fukushima and Miyagi has triggered tsunami waves of more than one metre, US Geological Survey said
The quake struck at about 6:00 am local time (2:30 am IST). National media reported minor injuries and damages.
National broadcaster NHK urged residents to seek higher grounds immediately, warning them of waves up to 3 m.
The depth of the quake was estimated to be 30 kilometres, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
An official from the Fukushima nuclear power plant said that a one metre wave had hit the coastlines, but the Cabinet secretary told media there was no problem.
The secretary added that the water cooling system at a reactor had stopped working in an automatic response, but there were no signs of damage.
The powerful earthquake also shook the capital city Tokyo, which lies about 160 km south of the Fukushima prefecture.
Buildings in Tokyo jolted for at least 30 seconds. Tokyo residents headed for high ground, BBC reported.
An AFP report said that a total of six people were slightly injured in the quake including five in Fukushima prefecture and one in Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo, while two other people were hurt in Miyagi prefecture.
In March 2001, a massive undersea earthquake struck in the same area had unleashed tsunami resulting the death of more than 18,000 people and caused one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters in the Fukushima power plant.
