Earthquake hits Japan; citizens are without electricity

TOKYO: A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred just before midnight in northeastern Japan, causing widespread power outages, disrupting transportation, and killing four people. Tens of thousands of Japanese households were without electricity.

When it comes to the supply chain, the world's already overburdened supply of smartphones, gadgets, and cars, companies like Toyota Motor Corp. and Renesas Electronics Corp. have been racing to estimate the consequences of any disruption.

The tremor brought back memories of Japan's strongest earthquake, a magnitude 9.1 temblor that struck the same area in March 2011 and devastated Fukushima prefecture and a nuclear power facility. At least one main roadway leading to the region was stopped for safety checks as a result of a Shinkansen bullet train service being halted indefinitely.