Strong 6.9-Magnitude Quake Hits Northern Japan; Tsunami Advisory Cancelled
A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan on Sunday evening, causing temporary power outages and train delays. Fortunately, no injuries or significant damage were reported, and a tsunami advisory that was initially issued has since been cancelled.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the quake occurred off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of 10 kilometres below the sea surface, around 5 p.m. Japan time (9 a.m. CET). Following the main tremor, several aftershocks were also recorded in the area.
A tsunami advisory was promptly issued, with waves measuring up to 20 centimetres recorded in some regions. Officials initially expected tsunami waves as high as 1 metre along the northern coast. However, after monitoring the situation for about an hour, the advisory was cancelled.
Local infrastructure experienced some disruptions due to the quake. Bullet trains operated by JR East were temporarily delayed. Specifically, operations on the Tohoku Shinkansen line between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations were suspended briefly because of power loss. Additionally, there were reports of short-term power shortages in the affected areas.
Importantly, no immediate issues were reported at the two nearby nuclear power plants. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
At a news conference on Sunday evening, a JMA official warned that similar or even stronger earthquakes could occur in the coming days. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to stay vigilant, move away from the coast, and be prepared for potential aftershocks and tsunami waves. She emphasized that tsunami waves can persist for several hours after an earthquake and may increase in size over time.
Aftershocks have continued to be felt in Iwate Prefecture, and residents are advised to remain cautious.
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**Topics:** Extended News, Foreign Affairs, Japan, News/Current Events
**Keywords:** earthquake, Japan, Pacific
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