Water Pumps At Fukushima’s Nuke Plant Halted; Bullet Train Derails After Powerful Japan Quake

Update (1231ET): Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) reports water pumps at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant’s spent pool have been halted after the powerful earthquake. A fire alarm has also been set off at the plant. 

NRA said there’s ‘enough time’ to restart the water pumps at the nuclear power in Okuma, Fukushima, Japan.

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Update (1219ET): A Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train has “derailed,” according to Bloomberg’s Gearoid Reidy. 

NHK says that JR East checking reports that a Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train has been derailed due to the quake

— Gearoid Reidy リーディー・ガロウド (@GearoidReidy) March 16, 2022

Kyodo News says there were a hundred passengers on the bullet train at the time of the derailment. No further details are available. 

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Update (1154ET): Residents in the Miyagi Prefecture of Tokyo on the east coast of Honshu island have been told to evacuate after the quake. Tsunami advisories are still active. 

Radiation levels at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant are normal. No abnormalities have been reported at other nuclear power plants in the country. 

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Reports indicate a magnitude 7.3 earthquake has struck off Fukushima, Japan, as a tsunami advisory has been issued, according to NHK World-Japan. The powerful earthquake was felt across the country, shaking buildings in Tokyo and triggering power outages. Reports indicate waves up to one meter may hit Japan’s northern coast. 

Where the earthquake struck. 

The Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami advisory for coastal areas of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.

Reuters’ William Mallard said the earthquake was felt around the country. He posted a map that shows some areas in the country recorded magnitude +6. 

6+ on the #Japan #earthquake intensity scale is some shaking. We rocked back and forth a good while on first floor in Yokohama. #地震 pic.twitter.com/J3k7nrF401

— William Mallard (@BillyMallard) March 16, 2022

Here’s a video of what appears to be someone’s home office shaking in Tokyo. 

Strong M7.3 earthquake rocking Fukushima, this is my desk in Tokyo now – you can hear the whole apartment building shaking. Scary. pic.twitter.com/UiiM7yzmkN

— John Daub (ONLY in JAPAN) (@ONLYinJAPANtv) March 16, 2022

Scenes of Tokyo shaking. 

BREAKING: Live cam captures shaking as strong earthquake hits Tokyo, Japan pic.twitter.com/UqEZdEKoKy

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) March 16, 2022

Here is the footage inside the subway train.#Tokyo #Japan #earthquake pic.twitter.com/pC8F8hpHXu

— KRoshan (@kroshan4mobile) March 16, 2022

Tokyo has gone dark: Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) says two million households are without power after the quake. They also say 700,000 buildings have lost power in the metro area. 

見渡す範囲全域停電！
at 東京都文京区 pic.twitter.com/BnUIM2lk0N

— Koheii🏔️山の非営利法人設立 (@koheii) March 16, 2022

Earthquake hit Japan just now…
There was a sudden blackout in Tokyo😨 pic.twitter.com/VO8ibeeU9j

— Kyle Anime Scouter (@kylescouter) March 16, 2022

🔌🔋 TEPCO (Japan’s biggest power company) now reporting 700,000+ buildings in Tokyo have lost power. And 2M+ buildings in its service area due to the #earthquake

東電ＰＧ: 管内全域で約209万8640軒が停電 pic.twitter.com/nl0iENwVUM

— Kurumi Mori (@rumireports) March 16, 2022

Fukushima airport goes dark. 

Loud rumblings heard at Fukushima airport #earthquake #Fukushima pic.twitter.com/mNGYfnj329

— bbouy | FROGZILLA to the moon!! (@Bbouy_1) March 16, 2022

Video of street poles shaking in Fukushima. 

Strong M7.3 earthquake rocking Fukushima.#Earthquake #JapanEarthquake #地震 pic.twitter.com/n1XA9OiGUK

— Pablo Antonio Lpz® (@Palh29) March 16, 2022

The area where the quake struck is northern Japan was previously devastated by a 9.0 magnitude quake and tsunami in 2011 that also caused a nuclear disaster.