July 28, 2003 – A pair of major earthquakes struck the Miyagi Prefecture on July 26, causing damage to a local semiconductor plant but sparing others.

The first earthquake, measured at magnitude 5.5, struck at 12:13 a.m. in Miyagi Prefecture, followed seven hours later by a much more powerful 6.2 magnitude quake, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

A subsidiary of Oki Electric Industry Co. in Miyagi said it has suspended operations, banning all employees from entering the cleanroom until aftershocks subside completely; a company official said it could be days before the plant resumes operations and can calculate the extent of the damage.

A Toshiba semiconductor plant in Iwate and an NEC Electronics facility in Yamagata Prefecture were reportedly undamaged.