Automakers Toyota and Nissan have paused operations at plants in northern Japan after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the northeast coast off Fukushima late on March 16. The companies confirmed the suspension in separate statements to Bloomberg. Work at Toyota’s factories in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures—which make Toyota’s popular Yaris compact car, among other vehicles—was suspended on Wednesday following the earthquake and remained so on Thursday. The company is currently deciding whether to resume production later in the day, spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto said. Meanwhile, work at Nissan’s factory in the city of Iwaki in Fukushima was also halted on Wednesday and remains so, although the plant was previously scheduled to close Thursday and Friday as part of Nissan’s employee vaccination schedule, spokeswoman Azusa Momose said. The Epoch Times has contacted spokespersons for Toyota and Nissan for comment. At least four people were killed and hundreds more injured after the earthquake struck at around 11:30 p.m. local …