Japan lifted a tsunami advisory on Tuesday after a 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off its northern coast. The quake occurred at 11:44 a.m. local time, days after a larger, 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit the same region.
Earthquake Details
The US Geological Survey reported the quake struck 130 kilometers northeast of the city of Kuji in Iwate prefecture.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially issued an advisory for a possible tsunami of up to 1 meter, forecasting potential waves in Hokkaido, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures between noon and 1:20 p.m.
National broadcaster NHK reported that no tsunami damage was expected. Two waves, each measuring 20 centimeters, were recorded – one in the town of Erimo on Hokkaido at 12:35 p.m., and another three minutes later in the Aomori region. NHK noted no discernible changes at either port.
Comparison to Previous Quake
The shaking from Tuesday’s quake was less intense than that of the 7.5-magnitude tremor on December 8, which caused items to fall from shelves, damaged roads, and shattered windows, triggering tsunami waves up to 70 centimeters high.
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority stated there were no immediate signs of abnormalities at nuclear facilities in the region.
Impact and Response
Politician Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, reported an emergency stop on a bullet train to Aomori due to the quake. He described the train car as becoming pitch-black and urged caution.
The Singapore Embassy in Tokyo advised Singaporeans in the affected areas to stay away from coasts and river mouths and to continue evacuating until all advisories were lifted. They urged residents to closely monitor local conditions and refer to official websites for updates.
A 5.3-magnitude earthquake was also reported in Hokkaido earlier on Tuesday, according to Xinhua.
Following the December 8 earthquake, the Japanese government issued a special advisory warning residents across a wide area, from Hokkaido to Chiba, to be alert for the possibility of another powerful earthquake within a week.
Tuesday’s tremor registered a four on Japan’s one-to-seven seismic intensity scale.
Japan is located on the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it one of the world’s most seismically active countries. The archipelago experiences approximately 1,500 jolts annually, with the vast majority being mild.
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A tsunami advisory was initially issued but later lifted.
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The quake was less intense than a larger tremor that occurred days prior.
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No immediate abnormalities were reported at nuclear facilities.
Additional reporting by Gabrielle Andres
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