Tsunami Warning Issued As Huge 7.3 Earthquake Slams Fukushima And Rocks Tokyo Buildings

A tsunami warning has been issued after a massive earthquake hit Fukushima, Japan.

The earthquake has been recorded as having a magnitude of 7.3, and its tremors are reported as having been felt all the way in the country's capital of Tokyo.

Meteorologists have stated that it struck in the ocean, and Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures have since received a tsunami warning.

Japan's Meteorological Agency detailed that the earthquake's epicentre was located 'off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture' and that it occurred at around 2:40pm today, March 16.

The depth of the earthquake is reported as 60km, and its latitude as 37.7N and longitude 141.7E.

It had a maximum seismic intensity of 'six plus' in Tome City and Zeo Town.

The website states that a seismic intensity of 6+ means: 'It is impossible to remain standing or to move without crawling. Most unfixed furniture will move and more objects will fall down'.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (ESMC) has since reported that the earthquake measures a magnitude of 7.4.

Taking to the ESMC website, one person who experienced the effects of the earthquake stated: "Two one after another. Second was the strongest. Not too bad but in this area of Northern Tokyo it seemed to go on for a couple minutes."

Another wrote: "Felt very strongly in Kashima. Apartment was strongly swaying the entire time."

"Felt very strongly on 6th floor in Ueno. Slight at first, then much stronger and sustained for well over a minute," a third stated.

A Twitter user called the earthquake 'probably the strongest earthquake i’ve experienced in Japan'.

Others flooded to the platform to express their concern. "Hope everyone is safe here in Japan. Check your surroundings and take care of yourselves," one noted.

At the time of reporting, no casualties or fatalities have been announced.

However, as per The Mirror, parts of Tokyo have been subject to power outages.

Chris Broad, a British man currently living in Japan, stated: "Scariest earthquake in ten years. Had an actual panic attack & thought the whole bloody building was coming down.

"Started with a big one that died off. Then all of a sudden a 2nd massive one that knocked half the apartment over. Fire alarms going off all around Sendai right now."

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Topics: Environment

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.