A significant earthquake hit the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday, leading to authorities issuing a tsunami warning and advising residents to move to higher ground.
The Weather Channel indicated it registered as a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, while the BBC reported it at 7.7.
According to the Weather Channel:
The U.S. Geological Survey noted that the epicenter was located approximately 100 kilometers east-northeast of Miyako City, off Sanriku’s coast. The earthquake struck around 4:53 p.m. local time (3:53 a.m. EDT), prompting tsunami alerts for Iwate Prefecture, parts of Hokkaido’s central Pacific coast, and Aomori Prefecture’s coastal areas. An aftershock measuring 5.6 magnitude followed less than an hour later.
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A tsunami measuring about 2.6 feet was recorded at Kuji Port in Iwate, with a smaller wave of 1.3 feet noted at another location, as reported by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The tsunami warning has since been downgraded, but vigilance remains high in Japan due to potential aftershocks and the possibility of larger earthquakes in the coming days, according to the BBC.
“This event follows a magnitude 7.7 earthquake affecting the already earthquake-prone northeast coast of Japan, prompting many to seek refuge in elevated areas,” the report mentioned. “Underwater activity off Iwate Prefecture caused a series of tsunami alerts and tremors felt as far south as Tokyo, approximately 530 kilometers away.”
Aerial footage depicted waves swelling in approach to coastal locations.
Another video captured the moment of the earthquake, with a camera perched over a residential area trembling:
Shortly after the quake, authorities cautioned of an increased likelihood of a ‘major earthquake.’ The Japan Meteorological Agency and Cabinet Office indicated a 1 percent chance of a significant quake impacting Japan’s northern coast within the week, advising individuals to prepare emergency supplies and keep a go-bag handy amidst their daily routines.
Further video footage showed an office building in Tokyo experiencing shaking during the earthquake.
A tsunami is defined by the USGS as waves created by significant earthquakes beneath or near the ocean, volcanic eruptions, underwater landslides, or landslides that send debris into the water.
The site also describes earthquakes as movements occurring when two blocks of the Earth slide past each other along a fault line.
