4.4-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Fukuoka Area; Kyushu Electric Says No Abnormalities at Genkai and Sendai Nuclear Plants

At around 6:37 a.m. on August 17, an earthquake struck the Fukuoka area of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, with a maximum seismic intensity of 4, a focal depth of approximately 10 kilometers, and a magnitude of 4.4. Kyushu Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) subsequently announced that the operational status of its Genkai and Sendai nuclear power plants was unaffected, with no abnormalities detected in the relevant units.

According to Kyushu Electric Power, Unit 4 of the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant in Saga Prefecture continued normal operation, while Unit 3 was undergoing periodic inspection; Units 1 and 2 of the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima Prefecture continued normal operation. The company stated that no impact on power supply had been confirmed.

During the earthquake, a seismic intensity of 4 was observed in Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture; intensity 3 was observed in Nishi Ward, Fukuoka City, and Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture; intensity 2 was observed in Chuo Ward, Minami Ward, and Sawara Ward of Fukuoka City, as well as in Munakata City, Koga City, Fukutsu City, Shingu Town, Kurume City, Saga City, Taku City, and Kamimine Town. Intensity 1 was also observed in parts of Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Yamaguchi, and Kumamoto Prefectures.

According to the earthquake information, there is no risk of a tsunami from this earthquake.