Fukushima fears renewed after magnitude 7.4 earthquake, tsunami hit Japan

The recent magnitude 7.4 earthquake has sparked concerns about what had happened in 2011 when a 9.0 earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan.

The massive tsunami that followed, reaching a height of up to thirty metres (98 feet), was followed by the meltdown of three nuclear reactors at the Fukushima plant, which was completely wrecked by the force of the wave.

Following the nuclear accident, the government created radiation-exclusion zones surrounding the facility and issued eviction orders for residents of adjacent cities. At its height in 2012, some 165,000 residents were evacuated.

Due to decontamination operations, the majority of places were reopened and residents were permitted to go back to their houses. However, thousands of people are still on the list of Fukushima evacuees, and many of them claim they have no plans to return.

Planes bound for the airports in Toyama and Ishikawa have been redirected by the Japanese carrier ANA.

Authorities said that one of Ishikawa's airports was closed, and Japan Airlines cancelled the majority of its flights to the Niigata and Ishikawa regions.

The earthquakes in Japan have damaged at least six homes, trapping the occupants.

More than 30,000 houses in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture, do not have electricity due to a fire, according to government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi, who also mentioned that the Japanese military was assisting with the rescue operations.

Video captured by Japanese media showed people racing through the streets and red smoke rising from a residential neighbourhood fire.

The Meteorological Agency reported that over a dozen severe earthquakes had been detected in the area, with the potential to cause landslides and collapsed structures.

Following a string of powerful earthquakes that struck its western coastline, Japan issued tsunami alerts, advising people to flee coastal areas.