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The powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake that shook Japan today has raised serious concerns in international scientific and political circles, due to its critical location: the same as that of the 2011 disaster, which left over 19,700 victims and led to the explosion of the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
In an interview with Sky News, Dr. Simon Boxall, senior lecturer in Oceanography at the University of Southampton, stated: “Today’s earthquake is in the same area where the devastating earthquake of 2011 occurred. In the coming hours we will learn how severe this shock really is.”
Japan's collective memory is still vivid from the trauma of March 11, 2011, when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake triggered a giant tsunami, leading to a complete failure of the cooling system at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, considered the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.
Japanese authorities have reacted more quickly this time, with immediate measures to control nuclear plants and activate emergency protocols. However, the parallels with 2011 have increased tension at home and abroad.
Injuries and material damage have been reported in the affected area, particularly Hachinohe and Aomori, while the risk of a tsunami has not been completely ruled out.
After the powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck northeastern Japan, Japanese authorities reacted quickly, declaring a state of emergency and putting all state security mechanisms into operation.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in an urgent statement to the media, announced that immediate measures have been taken to control nuclear power plants located in the earthquake-hit area. She said that so far there have been no reports of radioactive leaks or damage to critical infrastructure, but warned that verifications are continuing meticulously.
"We have activated the emergency response team and are working in cooperation with local authorities. The safety of citizens is our absolute priority," Takaichi declared.
According to preliminary information, nuclear power plants in Aomori and Miyagi prefectures are under constant supervision by technical teams and scientists from the atomic energy agency.
This rapid response also reflects lessons learned from the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which has left a deep mark on energy policy and emergency protocols in Japan.
Meanwhile, aftershocks continue to be felt in the Hachinohe area and the surrounding coast, while authorities have warned citizens to stay away from the coastline due to the risk of small tsunami waves.
A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan on Friday, causing significant damage and injuring several people. The epicenter of the quake was offshore near the coastal city of Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture, according to data from Japan's seismological agency.
State broadcaster NHK reported that several people were injured at a hotel in the city of Hachinohe, while authorities are on the ground assessing the damage and providing emergency assistance.
After the main tremor, other aftershocks were felt, while Japanese authorities immediately issued a tsunami alert, with warnings of sea waves of up to 40 centimeters in some parts of the northeastern coast.
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that the government has set up an emergency task force, which is monitoring the situation and cooperating with rescue and civil defense forces. "Our priority is the safety of people and minimizing the consequences," she told local media.
The affected area also includes sensitive regions, where some of Japan's nuclear power plants are located. So far, there are no reports of damage or radioactive leaks, but checks are ongoing.
An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Japan at a depth of 50 kilometers.
No damage has been reported so far, but a tsunami warning has been issued.
The tsunami height could reach a height of nearly 3 meters in some areas of the coastline, including Iwate, Aomori and parts of Hokkaido.
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