Get you up to speed: Japan issues mega-quake warning after 7.7-magnitude earthquake today
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan, prompting tsunami warnings for waves as high as 3 metres. The Japan Meteorological Agency advised residents to prepare emergency supplies due to an increased risk of a mega-quake.
Japanese officials have warned of a potential mega-quake following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, which advised citizens to prepare emergency supplies. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the government has established an emergency task force and urged residents in the affected areas to evacuate to safety.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has indicated an increased risk of a mega-quake off Japan’s northern coast, advising residents to prepare emergency food and grab bags. Additionally, non-binding evacuation orders have been issued to over 1,280,000 residents in various affected areas.
Fears of a mega-quake rise after powerful earthquake rocks Japan | News World
Japanese officials have warned the country could be struck by a mega-quake following the 7.7-magnitude tremor that sparked tsunami fears earlier today.
The strong quake erupted off the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday afternoon local time and prompted warnings of tsunami waves as high as 3 metres.
Locals in the Iwate prefecture and parts of Hokkaido were told to evacuate to higher ground before the tsunami warnings were downgraded to advisories.
This afternoon, around 4pm UK time, all tsunami warnings were lifted.
However, the Japan Meteorological Agency said there was an increased risk of a mega-quake off Japan’s northern coast, telling people to prepare emergency food and grab bags.
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Officials stressed there was still only a 1 per cent chance of such a major earthquake, which is classified as when a tremor is magnitude 8 or higher.
Tsunami waves as large as 80cm were recorded at a port in Kuji in Iwate after today’s 7.7-quake, with other areas of Japan recording smaller swells.
Non-binding evacuation orders have been issued to more than 1280,000 residents.
Milder tsunami advisory alerts have also been issued for the coasts of Miyagi and Fukushima, south of the epicentre.
The initial 7.5-magnitue earthquake was so strong people in Tokyo reported the capital ‘shook quite a bit’.
The tremor had an epicentre in the Pacific Ocean and was 10 km deep, according to the JMA.
A man in his 60s was injured in Hachinohe after falling down the stairs due to the shaking, while the exterior wall of a building peeled off elsewhere in the city.
Earthquakes with a magnitude between 7.0 and 7.9 are considered major and could cause serious damage, according to Michigan Tech university.
Iwate Garrison departed from Iwate Prefecture Office at 17:26 on April 20 (Mon) to gather information in response to the tsunami warning (Picture:@Gsdf_Camp_Iwate)
Tokyo-Aomori bullet train halted its operations after the earthquake, which measured an’upper 5′ on Japan’s seismic intensity scale.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters the government had set up an emergency task force and urged citizens in the affected areas to evacuate to safety.
Ships have begun sailing out of Hachinohe port in Hokkaido in anticipation of the tsumani.
Alerts have flashed across local TV blaring ‘Tsunami! Evacuate!’.
No abnormalities have been reported at the nuclear plants in the Aomori and Miyagi prefectures.
There are also no abnormalities at the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant, which saw meltdowns in 2011 following a massive earthquale and tsunami.
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