A powerful magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan late Saturday, rattling nearby cities and reviving haunting memories of the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake that triggered a devastating tsunami and nuclear crisis. The epicenter, located 240 kilometers from Tokyo, caused walls to crack, shattered windows, and triggered a landslide, but no tsunami warning followed.
Over 150 people sustained injuries across affected regions, though no fatalities have been reported. Footage captured by a CGTN stringer showed residents sharing their experiences, with one local noting, “It felt relentless—like nature’s reminder of 2011.”
Japan’s robust disaster preparedness systems, refined after the 2011 tragedy, were swiftly activated. Emergency teams prioritized restoring electricity to thousands of households overnight. Seismologists attribute the quake to residual tectonic shifts from the 2011 event, emphasizing that Japan’s seismic networks have significantly improved early-warning capabilities in recent years.
Global audiences, particularly young travelers and expats in Japan, expressed solidarity on social media. The incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by nations along the Pacific Ring of Fire and underscores the importance of international collaboration in disaster resilience.
Reference(s):
Quake brings back memories of deadly Great Tohoku Earthquake
cgtn.com
