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Japans government has alerted the population of potential blackouts caused by low power supplies after several coal-fired plants temporarily stopped generating electricity following last weeks earthquake.
The rare alert, which encouraged households and companies to conserve electricity, comes as the Tokyo region is experiencing snow and unusually cold weather for early spring.
Four people were killed during the March 16 earthquake, measuring 7.4 off the coast of Fukushima, in addition to injuring more than 230 others.
It follows the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster that killed thousands and devastated northeastern Japan.
The earthquake last week caused temporary power outages that affected up to 2 million homes.
Officials said that power has since been restored, but the grid faced severe pressure due to the unusual snow and cold.
However, Economy and Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda said the conservation effort was not enough to avoid blackouts and urged households and companies to cooperate.
As COVID-19 infections showed signs of slowing, Japans restrictions were lifted this week nationwide, with bars and restaurants returning to normal service hours, though guests might have to eat under dimmed lights.
Hagiuda warned that without further power conservation, blackouts in large areas would be inevitable, calling on department stores, supermarkets and convenience stores to turn off neon signs, and urging manufacturing factories to also conserve power. |
