TOKYO – A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Japan’s northeast on Thursday at about 11.30pm local time as an aftershock of the devastating March 11 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami.
According to Japan's National Police Agency, the tremor, strongest since March 11, killed three people and injured at least 132 people, 17 of them severely.
Fire department spokesman, Junichi Sawada said an 85-year-old man collapsed and died on his way to a shelter with his family while a 79-year-old man died of shock.
A 63-year-old woman in the Yamagata Prefecture died when the aftershock caused a power outage and her oxygen tank to fail.
The quake was initially rated a magnitude 7.4 by the Japan Meteorological Agency but was later lowered to 7.1. A tsunami warning issued at the time of the quake was also lifted after 90 minutes.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the aftershock was located at about the same place as the 9.0-magnitude quake but was closer to the coast, about 66km from Sendai. The tremor shook buildings for about a minute in as far away as Tokyo, about 333km from the northeast.
Research from Tokyo University, Satoko Oki said that eastern Japan can expect more strong aftershocks in the coming months.
The destructing March 11 quake and tsunami left more than 12,700 dead and 14,700 missing to date.
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