Tokyo residents warned of potential blackouts as a result of earthquake

A woman with an umbrella walks past a monitor calling for people to conserve electricity (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s government has alerted people of potential blackouts in the Tokyo region on Tuesday because power supplies were low after several coal-fired plants temporarily stopped generating electricity following last week’s earthquake.

The rare alert, calling on households and companies to conserve power, comes as the Tokyo region is facing snow and unusually cold weather for early spring, prompting the use of heaters.