Powerful Earthquake Of Magnitude 7.0 Jolts Japan; Tremors Felt In Tokyo, Blackouts Reported In Several Areas

The epicentre of the earthquake was 306 km northeast (NE) of Tokyo, Japan, the agency said. As per reports, earthquake struck at 7:37 pm IST at a depth of 60 km from the surface.

(Image: PTI)

Tokyo: An powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.0 was reported in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures in the Tohoku region of Japan on Saturday night. Tremors were also felt in Tokyo, where it registered a 4 on the Japanese scale.

The epicentre of the earthquake was 306 km northeast (NE) of Tokyo, Japan, the agency said. As per reports, earthquake struck at 7:37 pm IST at a depth of 60 km from the surface.

Initial reports suggest damage of properties in areas such as Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. No loss of lives have been reported yet. 

According to a report by news agency AP, the deadly earthquake centred 60 km below the ocean's surface and east of Etorofu island, a disputed landmass claimed by Japan but currently held by Russia.

A news report by Japan Times also states that no Tsunami warning has been issued by the Japenese government yet.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV said the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant was still checking if there were any problems, and there were no immediate reports of irregularities from other nuclear plants in the area follwing Saturday night's quake.

There were no immediate reports of injuries. Some 860,000 homes were without power as a result of the quake, according to Kato, news agency PTI Tokyo Electric Power Co. as saying. 

Even some trains in northeastern Japan had stopped running, and that other damage was still being checked. Meanwhile, Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga headed into his office immediately after reports of the quake, where a crisis center has been set up.

Areas that were hit by the quake today were same regions were the same regions slammed by a tsunami, quake and nuclear disaster in March 2011.