Staff were evacuated from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi NPP after tsunami warnings were issued in the wake of an 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Russia’s far east. Decommissioning work at Fukushima was suspended. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said, in a post on X, that it was “in contact with Japan national authorities about 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s east coast & resulting tsunami”. It added: “Initial reports indicate no safety impact for nuclear power plants along Pacific coast. ALPS treated water discharge halted in line with safety protocols.
The US Geological Survey said that the tremor was shallow, at a depth of about 13 miles, and that it was centred about 75 miles east-southeast of the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky where several buildings were damaged and tsunami waves of up to four metres were recorded.
The earthquake is tied for the sixth largest ever recorded, and is the biggest since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Fukushima tsunami and nuclear meltdown, according to the USGS.
However, no irregularities, damage or injuries were recorded at the facility after the latest earthquake, according to Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa. The Japan Meteorological Agency initially upgraded its tsunami warning and said waves of up to three metres were expected. “Tsunamis can strike repeatedly over a long period of time. The waves that come after the first one may be larger, so it is important to continue evacuating until the tsunami warning or advisory is lifted,” the agency said in its advisory.
Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba urged people in the affected areas to evacuate and move to higher ground or other safe locations. A task force to deal with the tsunami was set up at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The US Tsunami Warning System also issued a warning of “hazardous tsunami waves” advising that waves reaching more than 3m were possible along the coasts of Russia and Ecuador, and waves of 1-3m were possible in Japan, Hawaii, Chile and the Solomon Islands. Tsunami warnings have since been downgraded in Japan, Russia and Hawaii – almost two million people had been told to evacuate in Japan.
