Strong Earthquake Shakes Japan
Magnitude 7.0 trembler strikes northeast, felt in Tokyo

May 26, 2003

TOKYO, — A powerful earthquake rocked northeastern Japan on Monday, causing blackouts in several cities and the closure of highways and railways. Buildings swayed in Tokyo, more than 260 miles away, and the capital’s Narita airport was briefly shutdown. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

THE QUAKE HAD a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 and was centered 40 miles below the sea floor off the coast of northeastern Miyagi prefecture (state), Japan’s Meteorological Agency said. It struck at 6:24 p.m. (5:24 a.m. ET).

Local officials quoted by public service broadcaster NHK said some areas were suffering electricity and water outages immediately after the quake but had no further details. Major highways and railways were also closed as officials checked for damage.

The Tohoku Electric Power Company said that its 825,000 kilowatt nuclear reactor, the Onagawa No. 3 unit — located in the quake hit Miyagi prefecture — automatically shut itself due to the earthquake. Tohoku’s two other nuclear reactors at the same plant were already shut due to regular maintenance checks, a spokesman said.

A road buckled in the northeastern city of Ishinomaki and a house in the city caught fire, said local disaster official Norio Kumagai.

NHK also reported that the earthquake was strong enough to knock people over in the city of Sendai. A fire was reported in Sendai, but it was not clear if it was related to the quake.

The quake was strong enough to shake items off shelves in several towns near the epicenter and cause tall buildings to sway

In Tokyo, 260 miles to the south. Authorities at downtown Haneda airport briefly suspended takeoffs and landings to check the condition of runways, and bullet train service to northeastern Japan was also stopped.

The Meteorological Agency said there was no danger of tsunami, powerful waves that can be stirred up by seismic activity.

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