7.3-magnitude quake strikes off Japan’s coast, tsunami alert issued

A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern Japan late Wednesday, triggering a tsunami advisory for coastal areas, according to the United States Geological Survey. One person died and 69 were injured.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake struck about 36 miles below the sea. The Fukushima region was devastated by a deadly 9.0 quake and tsunami 11 years ago that also caused nuclear plant meltdowns.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which operates the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant where the cooling systems failed after the 2011 disaster, said that workers were checking for any possible damage.

Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force said it dispatched fighter jets just south of Fukushima for information gathering and damage assessment.

More than 2 million homes were without electricity in the Tokyo region serviced by TEPCO due to the quake, according to the utility’s website. The quake shook large parts of eastern Japan, including Tokyo, where buildings swayed violently.