Over 100 injured, trains halted after M7.3 quake strikes northeastern Japan

The whole of Japan is just very prone to earthquakes and it seems, especially the Northeast.

Locating nuclear facilities in such locations should be outright banned.

"Even if people say we don't need to worry about a tsunami, I won't buy it," said a 50-year-old male worker. "I learned from my bitter experience 10 years ago and that's why I evacuated."

Amen brother.

Up here in Iwate, 20 km from the Pacific coast, I have to say that that was the longest and most powerful earthquake that I have experienced since 2011. Knocked some books off the shelves.

Scary stuff.

I think that fault line has been very disturbed by 3/11 and this may be the prelude to more serious quakes.

Damaged buildings can be replaced, I'm glad no casualties reported yet.

Caught me on the loo. Not a great look.

The second strongest quake I'd experienced here in Tokyo.

Stay safe people! An older woman was interviewed on this morning's news, and she was quite frightened and said she had flashbacks to 10 years ago.

I really feel for the people who are still refugees here in Japan from the quake from 10 years ago, and having to deal with this again.

I think that fault line has been very disturbed by 3/11 and this may be the prelude to more serious quakes.

It is being reported as an after shock from 3/11, and they have already had over 30 aftershocks from this one as well. (As reported by JMA)

Must have been pretty big coz I felt it even up here in Hokkaido.

I'm glad that there are no irregularities at the nuke plants beyond what's already being released otherwise there might be a mess exodus of panic. I'm sure there are no controlled releases.

No deaths, a few minor injuries, a few broken bottles and books on the floor......

Considering it was a 7.3 this shows how well Japan is prepared for earthquakes. In many countries they would be running out of body bags.

Ok, then. What ‘immediate steps’ are the govt taking to immediately aid the people in that area?

Good point, @Zoroto. Re:’responsibility for actions’: ‘re-direct’ or, later, ‘misdirect’.

Glad there are no casualties.

For moments I thought we’d have another episode like the 2011...

Fingers crossed for everyone who suffered the worst of it and that there is not bad news to come. For Shindo 6- or 6+ over a wide area, the damage does appear to be quite limited, which is a big credit to Japan. Shindo 6 feels very scary indeed, as if you are going to die.

There's never good timing for an earthquake, but the middle of winter with the tenth anniversary of a bigger disaster approaching is still pretty bad. I hope they can get the power back on soon. It is also a relief that C-19 is under control in Tohoku, because they will be evacuating people, many of them elderly, into sports halls and community centers. Note that such evacuations are as a precaution and completely voluntary.

Reading some of the posts here, I really have to shake my head.

Instead of again complaining about Japan leadership and low testing about Covid 19, you guys should be happy that nobody died and nothing more worse happened during that earthquake.

But I guess that is impossible for some posters here.

There is no way to prepare for large earthquakes.

When buildings fall and crack, split apart and it is impossible to stand up-experience that type of earthquake and you are lucky to be alive.

It was on the nightly news here in the US. I am really glad there is no tsunami. Maybe it was an aftershock of the 2011 earthquake like the article said. Scary.

An earthquakes is the number one risk about living in Japan. It makes covid look like child’s play.

I was at a factory in Kitakami in Iwate on March 9, 2011 and that day there was an earthquake of similar magnitude (Shindo 6 / mag. 7.2 or 7.3). It was like nothing I ever felt before. It was a definintely a precursor to March 11, 2011.

However at that time (the March 9, 2011 quake) there were no aftershocks and the rest of the seismic pressure was released on 3/11/2011.

In the case of last night's quake there were numerous aftershocks so hopefully there will not be a recurrance of 2011.

@monty

totally agree.

many posters aren’t happy unless they are complaining about something - COVID, the government, the olympics.

They must be a joy to hang around.

this earthquake almost marks the 10th anniversary of the 2011 3.11 Tohoku earthquake that rattled the island and causing a Fukushima nuclear meltdowns. Hope all safe.

The 2011 tsunami killed more people than the earthquake.

Earthquakes can be prepared for and the country does well on that point.

One feature of the 3/11 tsunami videos is how little earthquake damage can be seen in them. Even basic stuff like tiles falling off roofs or the sides of buildings or vending machines and those cinder block walls toppling over. All you can see is the sea engulfing streets that look completely normal. Some people tried to evacuate in cars or return home because roads and bridges were still passable.

I read somewhere that there was a measured spike in radiation in the 45 minutes before the tsunami, which suggests some kind of release or problem at Dai-Ichi even before the water came and knocked out the backup power.

Kurisupisu......

There is no way to prepare for large earthquakes.

Yes there is. Its called building codes and regulations. Japan's are very good in terms of earthquakes. A 7.3 in Pakistan, Indonesia or Iran would kill thousands. In Japan... not a single fatality.

Rocked us pretty hard in north Chiba, lots of small stuff knocked over, very long, we were right at the door getting ready to head out into the yard.....

That thing was strong, long and scary!

Anyway, the weird thing about yesterday's quake was that it was a long grating type of quake - not just a sudden shake, but like a long slow movement over baggage over rollers within immigration - bumpy and slow but over an extended period of time.

We always have to be careful with the wording on the Japanese news from nuclear plants.

Quote: "but there are no tsunami threats or abnormalities at nuclear plants."

This is not actually true.

What was true when this article was written is that "at present, no reports of damage have come in, and damage reports have yet been filed or released."

In reality, we are now hearing in the latest news that water sloshed out of several fuel rod cooling pools, for example.

Reading some of the posts here, I really have to shake my head.

Instead of again complaining about Japan leadership and low testing about Covid 19, you guys should be happy that nobody died and nothing more worse happened during that earthquake. 

But I guess that is impossible for some posters here.

...

totally agree.

many posters aren’t happy unless they are complaining about something - COVID, the government, the olympics.

They must be a joy to hang around.

Japan - The World Leader in Disaster Management and “Readiness”. When it comes to earthquakes, Japan is the best prepared country in the world.

Of course we’re all happy that nobody died - plus - this is Japan we’re talking about so it’s not exactly a surprise when we hear the number of victims is 0. These posters you’re talking about know this so they prefer to jump the obvious and talk about things that need to be discussed.

https://www.sankei.com/affairs/news/210214/afr2102140014-n1.html

Report on above water spillages here, for example.

We depend on openness, and we are thankful when it is shown, respecting the public.

Stay safe everyone. Get those emergency kits restocked if they arent already!

Japan's are very good in terms of earthquakes. A 7.3 in Pakistan, Indonesia or Iran would kill thousands. In Japan... not a single fatality.

In many countries they would be running out of body bags.

I dont understand how a few people try to turn an earthquake into a nationalist chest-thumping exercise. Weird and distasteful.

BurakuminDes....

I don't understand how anyone could misunderstand my comment as nationalist chest thumping. It was just a statement of fact.... :) the hint for you was "in terms of earthquakes".... Can you name a country better prepared than Japan? No, I didn't think so...

*“ Japan - The World Leader in Disaster Management and “Readiness”. When it comes to earthquakes, Japan isthe best prepared country in the world.*

*Of** course we’re all happy that nobody died - plus - this is Japan we’re talking about so it’s not exactly a surprise when we hear the number of victims is 0. *

These posters you’re talking about know this so they prefer to jump the obvious and talk about things that need to be discussed. “

my post was just about stating facts, but the pc brigade is coming at me with their downvotes ; keep them coming ...

@ Mr Kipling - fair enough. It wasnt you that made the "body bags" comment about other countries that just sounds boastful and disrespectful. Lets pinch ourselves we won the lottery of living in first world nations - and still prepare for anything that could happen! Earthquakes and their resulting disaster events still kill many in Japan (yes - less than many other places), and many deaths can still be avoided.

Quite an impressive shaker, even in Tokyo. But since it was horizontal shaking, no tsumi. The same thing with vertical movement would have been another disaster.

kurisupisu

The whole of Japan is just very prone to earthquakes and it seems, especially the Northeast.

Locating nuclear facilities in such locations should be outright banned.

Deepends on the nuclear facility. The new Gen 5 reactors coming up will be safe even in those locations. I dont know why people remain fixated on Gen 3 designs like Fukushima that should be phased out.

Stay safe, people.

Japan is always organised. Even NHK news immediately had English interpretation to ensure we foreign residents fully understand what's going on. I an grateful.

zichi

Cost of Gen 5 reactors $8 billion (¥800 billion) beyond the price Japan could afford to pay.

Not a set figure. The more development happens and markets are created, the more the price will come down.

You don't need an aftershock from 2011 to have Earthquakes in Japan magnitude 7.3. Location of Japan=Most prone country to earthquakes on planet Earth.

I provide a link to the fuel pool spillages (admittedly still in Japanese) and get three minus marks above. Does this mean, "Please do not provide links, folks!" (?) Go ahead, shoot the messenger.

Japan has the best earthquake warning system in the world. It worked well this time. Now, why don't grocery and wine stores use shelving that prevents bottles from falling?

Now, why don't grocery and wine stores use shelving that prevents bottles from falling?

Every single bottle would have to be secured to the shelf. Many different sized bottles. Very costly for tiny mom and pop shops.

@marcelito

Pointing out a fact isn't wrong.

My home city and the area around it is know known to be on a giant fault line,

In the last 40 years there have been hundreds of small quakes and nothing has changed despite most experts pointing out that it is due for on very big movement especially since the world has gotten warmer.

But no construction regulations have been put in place few if any buildings or houses are built to resist earthquakes.

The idea is this stuff happens elsewhere is strong even after a small quake much further north knocked out power to much of the region for days and luckily it was summer if it had been winter at the -20°c or lower at night things would have not been good, especially since electric heating is the top method of home as office heating.

Instead of being concerned about building earthquake resistant buildings they spend their time regulating angle of stairs, height of steps and regulating handrail and Bannister Heights.

Every single bottle would have to be secured to the shelf. Many different sized bottles. Very costly for tiny mom and pop shops.

Not really, I have antiques on display it didn't cost much to place a few 10~15cm high plexiglass strips along the shelves to stop things from falling out.

Sure if it is a really big quake then it will not stop everything but it will help considerable.

Home centre, or online order some 1800 X 900 mm panels a ¥500 plexiglass knife and a long ruler. A cheap drill/driver and some screws.

Never understood why these place never do something that simple.

Been here over 30 years.

Was part of an aid team from Tokyo that went North 10 years ago, housed refugees from the Hanshin earthquake, etc..

I have a major go kit just outside my home ( when living in an apartment building it was on the veranda). Full 7 person double roof tent, food, water, cooking needs including stove( don't get gas cannisters type useless run out way to fast) sleeping bags, inflatable mattress, etc...

If you don't have one get one ASAP, you may need it, this is Japan.

My heart goes out that all affected.

I wondered about the bottles too.... turns out that making shelves "earthquake resistant" is troublesome for customers and quakes of a magnitude to do damage don't happen as often as we might think..

The over concern about breakage of bottles and prevention devices, is amusing.

I bet the shop owner is very annoyed this morning, can you imagine opening up your shop door and seeing all of those bottles smashed on the floor. still they can be replaced, and no one was killed.

Many of the liquor stores here in California (we also get earthquakes) have bottles behind wires, or even in cabinets.