Impact Of M7.4 Earthquake Off Japan's Pacific Coast Continues After 1 Week
The impact of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that hit off Japan's Pacific coast still lingers, affecting transportation and people's lives one week after it struck.
Operations of some power plants in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures in northeastern Japan remain suspended.
This prompted the government to warn of possible power outages in wide areas including Tokyo. The capital and the surrounding area were also hit by an unseasonal cold snap on Tuesday, and people needed more electricity for heating. The government urged residents to reduce their power consumption.
The warning is still in effect for Tokyo and some other areas on Wednesday, though it was lifted for northeastern Japan on Tuesday evening.
Shinkansen bullet train runs remain suspended between Koriyama and Ichinoseki, as the quake derailed a bullet train. The operator, East Japan Railway, plans to fully reopen the service around April 20.
Nearly 1,000 households in Fukushima Prefecture were still without water as of Tuesday.
The Cabinet Office says the powerful earthquake that jolted much of eastern Japan on March 16 left three people dead and 231 others injured.
About 240 houses were damaged, most of them partially. The health ministry says about 70,000 households were left without water at one time.