A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Japan late Monday night, triggering urgent tsunami alerts across several northern prefectures. The strong offshore quake struck at 11:15 p.m. local time (2:15 p.m. GMT). An immediate evacuation order has been issued.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) noted a tsunami “as high as 3 metres (10ft)” could reach parts of the country’s north-eastern coastline. The agency reported that tsunamis between 20–50cm (7–18in) had already been observed at multiple ports soon after the quake.
JMA said the tremor’s epicentre was located 50 miles (80km) off the coast of Aomori prefecture, at a depth of about 30 miles. Tsunami warnings were issued for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate.
According to media reports quoted by the AFP, Japan imposed the Tsunami warning after a powerful quake. The powerful quake also hit hard in Sapporo, the northern hub. Residents of Sapporo got the warning on their mobile phones.
A NHK reporter in Hokkaido described roughly 30 seconds of horizontal shaking that left him unable to stand as the earthquake struck. Live broadcasts showed the devastating images of destroyed areas. An NHK reporter described a horizontal shaking lasting about 30 seconds that left him unable to stand as the earthquake struck.
Japan’s meteorological agency warned about a tsunami earlier, which can rise above 10 meters or 3meteres, according to the meteorological agency, it is expected to hit Japan’s Pacific coast.
Minoru Kihara, the top government spokesman, urged citizens to stay in a safe place until and unless further notification is issued. He addressed the reporters as cited by The Hindu, "Even after an initial wave, a second or third wave of an even greater height can arrive.” Kihara also confirmed that he had not received any reports of abnormalities.
In 2011, a magnitude-9.0 earthquake unleashed a tsunami, killing or missing 18,500 people and causing a catastrophic meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Though it is very hard to predict, Japan now estimates a 75–82% chance of a Nankai Trough megaquake in 30 years, potentially causing up to 298,000 deaths and $2 trillion in damage.
