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An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 jolted northern Japan on Monday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The quake triggered a tsunami warning, predicting waves as high as three meters (approximately 10 feet).
The seismic event occurred at 5:53 p.m., originating in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Iwate Prefecture. The tremor was powerful enough to be felt in Tokyo, situated several hundred kilometers away.
The JMA cautioned that the first tsunami waves could potentially reach the northern coastline immediately.
Authorities urged residents in coastal and riverside areas to evacuate to safer locations such as higher ground or designated evacuation buildings. They warned that tsunami waves could cause significant damage.
The agency also emphasized that the threat of tsunami waves might persist and advised the public to remain in secure areas until the warning is officially lifted.
The prime minister’s office said it had set up a crisis management team.
Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active countries, sitting on top of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”.
The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, typically experiences around 1,500 jolts every year and accounts for about 18 per cent of the world’s earthquakes.
The vast majority are mild, although the damage they cause varies according to their location and the depth below the Earth’s surface at which they strike.
In 2011, a magnitude-9.0 quake triggered a tsunami that left 18,500 people dead or missing and caused a devastating meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
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