The quake was far stronger than expected. It was still not very close to the reactor.
Reactors cannot withstand such earthquakes. After the earthquake most of Japan's reactors are shutdown. After such an earthquake you need to inspect them, for example to find problems in pipes, pumps, and various other installations.
What Fukushima showed was that a loss of power over a long period of time made problems. The power lines bringing outside electricity were destroyed. Roads were damaged. Other generators were not available.
It's not clear that a similar situation could not happen caused by an extremely strong earthquake much nearer to a power plant.