nuclear-news

Japan’s NHK news agency said the tremors were felt throughout “wide areas” of the east coast, though the epicentre was not at sea, meaning a tsunami is unlikely.

The Japan News said it was powerful enough to be felt in the same region as the nuclear plant, which is part of Honshu Island.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company, which is still decommissioning Fukushima’s ruined reactors, is investigating any impact of the quake there. The firm said in a statement: “At the moment, we have not confirmed the impact of the earthquake on our main power facilities (including nuclear power plants).”

The quake struck Ibaraki Prefecture at 9.38pm local time (12.38pm UK time). There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries.

There was a 7.3 magnitude earthquake which hit Fukushima last month.

Japan has a long history of powerful earthquakes and sits within the world’s most active volcano and earthquake zone in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The zone is home to 90 percent of earthquakes and 81 percent of the most powerful quakes on earth.

It comes after a series of large quakes hit the US near the Nevada-California state line, sparking fears that the long-feared Big One was coming.