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The rattling occurred in an area where strong earthquakes have
repeatedly been reported in recent months, including one that
triggered a weeklong mega-quake caution advisory in December.
The quake, which struck Japan’s northeastern region during
Thursday’s morning rush hour, also mildly shook Tokyo. There
were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, according to
top government spokesperson Minoru Kihara.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo that her
government’s emergency team is “putting people’s lives first,”
while assessing information and preparing for relief operations,
if needed. She urged residents in the affected regions to use
caution against possible aftershocks.
Tomoko Nagane, a primary school principal in the town of
Hashikami in Aomori prefecture, told NHK that she was driving
when the quake alert went off and that she felt moderate sideway
shaking. Children already gathered at the school were safe, she
said, though some were crying in fear. Classes were canceled for
the day and children have all returned home safely, Nagane said.
Footage on Japan's NHK public television quoted its journalists
from a number of strongly hit towns, including Sendai and
Morioka, saying they felt the shaking for a couple of minutes
but have not seen any damage. Footage showed people commuting as
usual.
The East Japan Railway Co., which operates trains in
northeastern regions, said some bullet trains and other local
lines have been suspended for safety checks.
Nuclear power plants and facilities, including the Fukushima
Daiichi plant which was damaged by the 2011 massive quake and
tsunami, and a spent fuel reprocessing plant in Aomori, have not
reported any abnormalities from Thursday's earthquake, Kihara
said.
Japan, which sits on what is known as the Pacific Ring of Fire,
is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone areas.
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