Thousands of Japan homes without electricity after earthquake kills 4

Companies race to assess the impact of the magnitude 7.4 quake, which struck shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of Japanese households remained without power on Thursday morning, more than 10 hours after a powerful earthquake that left at least four dead and more than 100 injured, and severed transport links to the country's northeast.

Companies including a giant chipmaker and Toyota Motor Corp raced to assess the impact of the magnitude 7.4 quake, which struck shortly before midnight on Wednesday. Supply chain disruptions could put more pressure on already strained global output of smartphones, electronics and automobiles.

The temblor revived memories of the March 11, 2011 disaster in the same area, and left Shinkansen bullet train service