Breaking news reports indicate that a magnitude 7.3 earthquake has struck Northern Japan off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture.
The US Geological Survey initially placed the earthquake at a magnitude of 7.3 but later downgraded it to 6.9. The quake reportedly occurred 37 kilometers (23 miles) east-southeast of Namie off the country’s east coast at a depth of 11.4 kilometers (7 miles).
As we pen this posting, a tsunami warning remains in place for Japan’s northeast coast with a tsunami wave of 1-3 meters (3-10 feet) possible.
Two aftershocks have been already reported by USGS, one 5.4 and one 4.8.
Thus far reports indicate boats are attempting to get out to sea to avoid imminent tsunami waves while residents living near the coast are being warned to evacuate to higher ground. Japan Railways has suspended operations of dozens of bullet trains operating in eastern Japan so engineers can check tracks to make sure they have not been damaged by the earthquake. Similarly, addition remediation measures have been ordered for what remains of the Fukushima nuclear plant comp
Penning this alert reminds us of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck this same region in 2011. Only this time, the tsunami could impact eastern coastal regions. Hopefully, the same scope of such a disaster will not occur again. Many industries discovered the consequent impacts of supply chain disruption after the 2011 incident.
Industry supply chain teams should obviously be monitoring ongoing developments.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the safety of all citizens in the potential impacted coastal areas and we trust that events will not repeat themselves.
Bob Ferrari
Hello Everyone:
Our monitoring of Japan broadcaster’s NHK web site at 10:30pm Eastern US time indicates that Japan’s Meteorological Agency has downgraded the tsunami warning to an advisory for the coastal areas of Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures in northeastern Japan. But the agency is calling on people to stay cautious.
A tsunami measuring 1.4 meters was observed at Sendai Port in Miyagi.
The Meteorological Agency lifted the warning for the 2 prefectures at 9:46 AM local time. But officials are urging people to stay away from the coast, as tsunami advisories are still in effect there along with 2 other prefectures.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company indicates to NHK that it has restored a cooling system at the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant that briefly stopped after the quake.
Firefighting officials in the city of Iwaki in Fukushima said a fire broke out at a petrochemical complex in the district of Nishikimachi, but was later extinguished.
Bob Ferrari