7.5-magnitude quake strikes, tsunami warning issued
Updated ,first published
Tokyo: A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Japan’s northeastern coast on Monday, and authorities urged residents to stay away from coastal areas where tsunami waves of up to three meters were expected.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the epicenter of the tremor was in the Pacific Ocean and was 10 kilometers deep. The biggest waves were predicted to hit Iwate and Aomori prefectures at the top of Japan’s main island of Honshu and the northern island of Hokkaido, officials said.
Tsunami waves 80 centimeters high were detected in the hour following the earthquake, which occurred at 16.52 (17.52 AEST). Warnings continued for possible larger waves at the top of Japan’s main island of Honshu and in the northern Hokkaido region.
There were no reports of any casualties or major damage, government spokesman Minoru Kihara said at a news conference as night fell in the capital Tokyo.
Several port cities, including Otsuchi and Kamaishi, both hit hard by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011, had previously issued evacuation orders for thousands of residents, according to public broadcaster NHK. Due to the earthquake, high-speed train services were stopped and some highways were closed.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had established an emergency task force and called on citizens in the affected areas to evacuate to safety.
In the footage broadcast on NHK, it was seen that the ships set out from Hachinohe port in Hokkaido in anticipation of the wave: “Tsunami! Evacuation!” A warning appeared on the screen.
Major aftershocks could occur in the coming days and weeks, an official from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said at a separate televised news conference.
According to the JMA, a three-metre tsunami could damage low-lying areas, flood buildings and anyone exposed could be swept away by currents.
The earthquake measured in the “upper fifth” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale; strong enough to make it difficult for people to move. In most cases, unreinforced concrete block walls collapse.
Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. An earthquake occurs in the island country at least every five minutes. Located in the “Ring of Fire” of volcanoes and oceanic trenches that partially surround the Pacific Basin, Japan is responsible for approximately 20 percent of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater.
There are no nuclear power plants in the affected areas, and Hokkaido Electric Power Co and Tohoku Electric Power Co said no abnormalities were reported at their idled facilities there.
Reuters
