Japan Safe 로고 Japan Safe
Int. 6+ 16 March 2022 at 23:36 JST

Fukushima–Miyagi Earthquake (M7.4) — Mar 16, 2022

Off Fukushima / Miyagi

Magnitude

M7.4

Recovery

5 days

Peak news

312art.

Situation Summary

Struck late at night. Yamabiko 223, a 17-car Tohoku Shinkansen train, derailed between Fukushima and Shiroishizao with 16 cars off the rails. All approximately 100 passengers evacuated safely with no injuries. 2.23 million households lost power.

4 dead (including disaster-related), 247 injured, 50,000+ buildings damaged

Key Timeline
  1. 23:36

    M7.4 earthquake; Miyagi and Fukushima Intensity 6+

  2. 23:37

    Yamabiko 223 (17 cars) derailed inside Fukushima station area — 16 cars off the rails

  3. 23:40

    Entire Tohoku Shinkansen suspended

  4. 03:30 (3/17)

    All ~100 passengers from derailed train evacuated on foot along the track by 3:30 AM

  5. 3/17~

    Airlines increased Tohoku routes to meet demand from displaced Shinkansen passengers

  6. 4/14

    Tohoku Shinkansen fully resumed (28 days after quake)

  7. 5/13

    Normal timetable restored on Tohoku Shinkansen

Traveler Impact

Airport

Sendai Airport briefly halted for late-night inspection. Airlines added emergency Tohoku flights to absorb Shinkansen demand.

Shinkansen / Rail

Tohoku Shinkansen suspended ~1 month (Fukushima–Sendai section). In-motion derailment necessitated full safety inspection. Demand for alternative transport (flights, long-distance buses) surged.

Accommodation

Increased cancellations in Sendai and Fukushima. Scale was smaller than Kumamoto or Hokkaido events.

Other

2.23 million households lost power (TEPCO/Tohoku Electric service areas). Power restored within a few days for most. Part of Tohoku Expressway under traffic restriction.

Sources
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