21-3-2024 (TOKYO) Japan’s national broadcasting organisation, NHK, has reported that an earthquake struck the Tokyo area today. The initial tremor measured at a magnitude of 5.3, with varying intensities ranging from 1 to 7 felt across the prefectures of Tochigi and Saitama. Despite the quake’s strength, no tsunami warnings were issued post-event.
According to reports, the earthquake ranging from magnitude 1 to 7 affected Ibaraki Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture, and Saitama Prefecture, with authorities not issuing any tsunami warnings. Following the seismic event, the nuclear power plant in Ibaraki Prefecture was shut down as a precautionary measure, and several JR train services experienced delays.
Japan’s Nuclear Power Inc. has reported that the Tokai No. 2 Nuclear Power Plant in Ibaraki Prefecture is currently shut down and undergoing inspection for any abnormalities following the earthquake.
Japanese media outlets state that the earthquake occurred around 9:08 am, with Tokai Village in Ibaraki Prefecture experiencing a seismic intensity of 3. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency has indicated that the Tokai No. 2 Nuclear Power Station, located in Tokai, has not sustained any damage. The power plant is currently undergoing routine inspections and is not operational; however, radiation monitoring stations in the vicinity have not shown any abnormal readings.
Earthquakes with intensities below 5 were recorded in parts of Tochigi Prefecture and Tateyama Prefecture. Cities in Tateyama Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture experienced magnitude 4 earthquakes.
Magnitude 3 earthquakes were reported in several areas, including Tokyo’s Chuo Ward, Chiyoda Ward, Shinjuku Ward, Shibuya Ward, Ota Ward, Edogawa Ward, Hachioji City, Koganei City, and Hino City; Fukushima Prefecture’s Shirakawa City; and Kanagawa Prefecture’s Yokohama City, Kawasaki City, and Aikawa Town.
Magnitude 2 earthquakes occurred in Tokyo’s Taito Ward, Meguro Ward, Tachikawa City, Musashino City; Kanagawa Prefecture’s Nishi Ward; and in Miyagi Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, and Yamanashi Prefecture, among others.
Fukushima City in Fukushima Prefecture; Oshima Town and Toshima Village in Tokyo; and certain areas of Kanagawa Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, and Gifu Prefecture also experienced magnitude 1 earthquakes.
