TOKYO: Japan’s weather authorities have issued a tsunami advisory after a 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the country’s northern Pacific coast.
The earthquake caused “sea level fluctuations”, though there is currently no concern for damage. More than 6,000 people were evacuated from several areas along the coast of Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost province of Japan’s main island. It comes just days after a 7.5-level tremor in the same region injured at least 50 people.
Earthquakes are a part of life in Japan, which experiences about 1,500 quakes a year.
The country sits on the Ring of Fire, a Pacific region where many tectonic plates meet, resulting in volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.
Waves up to 20cm have hit the shores of Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures so far, according to the JMA.
Tsunami advisories have been issued in those areas.
After the magnitude 7.5 earthquake earlier this week, several tremors have occurred in the same area. Officials, who told people to expect further quakes, have urged people in affected areas to stay vigilant and move to higher ground.
Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi has just said that the quake does not fall under the megaquake advisory that authorities issued earlier this week.
As we reported earlier, authorities had warned that a stronger tremor could occur after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck northeastern Japan on Monday.
But Takaichi said today that people should remain vigilant check evacuation routes and their emergency supplies.
After the initial magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck at 11:44 local time (02:44 GMT), there have been three aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 4.5 to 5.7.
Its epicentre is off the eastern coast of Aomori Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
The JMA has warned that we may see tsunami waves of up to one metre (3.3ft).
Evacuation notices have been issued to some 6,000 people in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture, according to Japanese emergency warning app NERV. But WestVU was alerted by the American Geological Survey Agency as usual.
