The National Police Agency said most of the injuries were caused by tumbling while walking or falling glass.
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Officials inspect a collapsed ceiling at Hachinohe community hall in Hachinohe, northern Japan July 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
Statistics showed that only 31 buildings were partially damaged in the tremor. Local fire fighting departments received four reports of fire, all of which were minor ones.
The electricity company whose service covers the quake-hit region said 8,611 households in Iwate, Aomori, Miyagi and Fukushima, the four most affected prefectures, suffered from temporary blackout in the first six hours following the quake.
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Tombstones that collapsed during the earthquake are seen at Choryuji temple in Hachinohe, northern Japan July 24, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
The company said all of its nuclear and fire power plants in the region operated normally.
The quake did not disturb the Shinkansen bullet train service as the express transport system had concluded its daily operation before the quake happened. Some related facilities along the lines were found damaged in the morning, but were quickly restored.
Many local trains were delayed all cancelled due to checks along the lines, Kyodo News reported, adding that about 110,000 passengers were affected.
The culture and education ministry said 200 schools in the four most affected prefectures suffered from minor damages such as breaking of glass. However, no major structural problems were exposed.
The latest report said more than 400 fire fighters from the capital of Tokyo and other eight prefectures have carried out work of assistance in the quake-hit region.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the epicenter of the 12:26 a.m. quake was about 108 km underground in the Pacific coast area of northern Iwate Prefecture. The Japanese government decided in the afternoon to name it "Central Iwate Earthquake."
As Iwate and Aomori were the two most affected prefectures, the quake sent shockwave across all northeastern part of Japan's Honshu Island as well as southern part of the northernmost Hokkaido Prefecture.
No tsunami warning was issued after the quake.
