Two killed as earthquake hits North-East Japan

Officials say a massive earthquake that struck north-east Japan killed at least two people and injured 160 others, but caused only little damage. Two million homes lost power at first, and a bullet train derailed, although no passengers were injured. On Thursday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency lifted a tsunami warning.

Officials stated the magnitude 7.4 quake struck in the same location as the one that caused the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, but it was not harmed this time.

The earthquake was too strong in some regions for people to stand, while buildings in Tokyo shook.

The quake struck at 23:36 (14:36 GMT) on Wednesday, at a depth of 57 kilometres (35.4 miles), according to Japanese authorities.

They warned of probable aftershocks in the prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi, and Yamagata.

Japan’s meteorological service issued a one-metre (3.3-foot) tsunami warning for areas of the north-east coast shortly after the incident, but it was lifted on Thursday morning after waves only one-third of that height reached shore.

Several persons were injured by falling objects or in falls across north-eastern Japan, and one man in his sixties died in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, according to local media. In Miyagi Prefecture, a second death has been recorded.

According to certain media reports, four people died in the quake, although government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno said the exact number of individuals killed was still being determined.

Electrical was momentarily interrupted to more than 2.2 million homes in 14 prefectures, including the Tokyo area, although most regions had power restored by mid-morning, according to the local electricity supplier.

Those on board a bullet train that was derailed by the quake north of Fukushima city had a lucky escape; fortunately, the train was not moving rapidly and no one was injured.

Passengers and crew were stranded on board for four hours before they were able to escape.