Magnitude 7.5 earthquake hits northern Japan, triggering tsunami warning

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake has struck off northern Japan’s Pacific coast, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for waves up to 3 meters high. The quake occurred on Monday at 4:53pm local time in waters off Iwate prefecture and was felt across a wide area, including Tokyo, hundreds of kilometers away.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned that the first tsunami waves could reach parts of the northern coastline immediately. Authorities are advising people to evacuate coastal regions and riverside areas to higher ground or evacuation buildings until further notice.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced the establishment of a crisis management team to assess the impact of the earthquake. She is urging residents in affected areas to take immediate action and relocate to safer locations.

The government is currently working to confirm whether there have been any casualties or damage to property. Japan, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, experiences frequent earthquakes due to its unique geography. The country averages around 1,500 earthquakes per year and accounts for approximately 18% of global seismic activity.

This incident serves as a reminder of Japan’s history with devastating earthquakes and tsunamis, including the 2011 magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami that resulted in over 18,500 fatalities. Authorities have also raised concerns about the risk of strong earthquakes along the Nankai Trough, an undersea trench south of Japan where several tectonic plates meet.

Source: Al Jazeera