N orthern Japan was struck by an earthquake earlier today which measured 6.9 on the Richter scale and whose epicenter was located 37 kilometers east southeast of Namie; and a tsunami warning was issued.
Five other earthquakes and aftershocks — ranging in magnitude from 4.4 to 5.4 — have occurred since then, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Major Earthquake Strikes Japan; Tsunami Followed
The epicenter of the earthquake — which was at a depth of approximately 11.3 kilometers — was located off the coast of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which suffered a triple meltdown after the two major earthquakes and tsunami which occurred in Japan back in 2011: an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.9 and an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale.
Tsunami waves have reportedly reached the power plant, which was inundated by the tsunami in 2011. No immediate information is available at the time this article was prepared pertaining to the height of the wave of the tsunami; if there are any deaths or injuries as a result of the earthquakes or tsunami; if damage has been recorded; or if travel has been interrupted in any way. Additional information may be known by the time you read this article.
Summary
If you have flights scheduled to northern portions of Japan, check with the airline which operates your flights to see if they are affected. Flights to Tokyo should not be affected even though people have reported feeling tremors there; but taking a couple of minutes to check and be sure never hurts.
In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Japan, who have suffered two major earthquakes earlier this year, which left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
Source of map: United States Geological Survey.
