Japan inspects nuclear sites as seismologists warn of another large quake

Nuclear facilities were inspected in Japan as authorities assessed the damage from a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, amid warnings of a potentially larger tremblor.

Nuclear facilities were inspected in Japan on Tuesday as authorities assessed the damage from a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, amid warnings of aftershocks and a potentially larger tremblor in the coming days.

As cleanup operations began, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters that an emergency task force was formed to urgently assess damage, according to The Associated Press. “We are putting people’s lives first and doing everything we can,” she said.

A worker clears debris at a shopping center damaged by the earthquake in Hachinohe City. Jiji Press / AFP via Getty ImagesAt least 34 people were injured by Monday's earthquake, most of them hit by falling objects as buildings rocked on their foundations, officials said.

Since the initial tremblor struck about 30 miles below the sea surface off Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, 20 aftershocks have been recorded, including one of magnitude-6.4, according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA).

Though highly unlikely, a magnitude-8 quake was possible this week, accompanied by a tsunami just east of Tokyo, the JMA said.