In what seemed almost like a cruel instance of deja vu, in the early evening of April 11, Japan experienced a noticeably large aftershock that reportedly measured 7.1 on the Richter scale centered in Fukushima. Workers at the damaged nuclear plant there were ordered to evacuate the premises. The day marked the one-month anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck the country’s north-eastern coast, causing destruction and loss for many communities.
Furthermore, a tsunami warning was issued for a 1-meter high tsunami to coastal towns in the north-east, although it was lifted an hour later. A similar alert was issued following a 7.1 aftershock that hit the region last week, but there was also no resulting tsunami.
Some staff members at The Diplomat's Tokyo office stated they felt that this was the strongest aftershock since March 11 and that they continued to feel mild tremors for about an hour afterward.