TOKYO, July 25 (UPI) -- A 6.2-magnitude earthquake that shook Japan's already devastated northeast Monday did not exacerbate a crippled nuclear plant there, the operator said.
The offshore quake was reported at 3:51 a.m. local time off Fukushima prefecture and was felt in neighboring Miyagi prefecture, both hit by the March 11 magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami that set off a catastrophic nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
The plant's operator said there were no abnormalities from the Monday quake at the plant where work continues to bring its damaged reactors to what is called a permanent "cold shutdown" by January.
No tsunami warning was issued after the latest temblor, Kyodo News reported, quoting the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The report said the quake also did not cause any abnormality at other nuclear plants in the area.
Separately, Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, said a desalination device in the plant's decontamination system halted for more than 7 hours Sunday before a backup device was activated, Kyodo reported. Water from a nearby dam was used as coolant during the interim.
Desalination of the decontaminated water is needed to recycle the water to cool the damaged reactors.
The cause of the device's breakdown was being investigated.
