OREANDA-NEWS   The earthquake that struck Japan did not affect the operation of nuclear power plants. This is reported by NHK TV channel with reference to the energy company TEPCO.

There were no deviations in the operation of the Fukushima-1 and Fukushima-2 nuclear power plants. The Onagawa station in Miyagi Prefecture and the temporary storage facility in Aomori Prefecture continue to operate normally. There were no emergency situations at the Higashidori station, which was decommissioned 15 years ago. The radiation background in the surrounding areas has not changed.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.5 occurred on April 20 off the east coast of Japan. The epicenter of the tremors was located in the Pacific Ocean off Iwate Prefecture. A tsunami threat with waves up to three meters high has been declared for this area, as well as for Aomori and Hokkaido.

A tsunami is also threatening Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. Experts make various estimates: the height of the waves can vary from three meters to several centimeters. Seismologists, however, are hesitant to predict future aftershocks — the effects of the strongest earthquakes can take months or even years to affect.