Authorities in Japan on Tuesday warned of possible power outages in parts of the country after last week's earthquake damaged infrastructure.
People in Tokyo and eight other provinces have been asked to save electricity.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the electricity 鈥渄emand is still exceeding the target level鈥� in the country.
鈥淲e ask for your cooperation in maximizing power saving in both the Tokyo and (other) regions,鈥� said Kishida.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO) and Tohoku Electric Power Co. provide electricity to these regions.
According to Japan鈥檚 Ministry of Economy, TEPCO said a 鈥渨ide range of power outages will have to be carried out鈥� despite power saving by people during evening hours.
The power outages will affect up to 3 million households in the capital and other eastern and northeastern areas.
Last week鈥檚 earthquake has constricted power supplies in the country.
Authorities fear power outages 鈥渃ould occur if hydroelectric power plants run out of water to pump in.鈥�
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted Japan鈥檚 northwestern Iwate state, killing one person and injuring over 160 others.
The quake occurred off the coast of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures at a depth of 20 kilometers (over 12.42 miles) at 11.25 p.m. local time (0236GMT).
By Riyaz ul Khaliq
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr