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80-cm Tsunami Hits Northern Japan After Powerful 7.4 Earthquake: A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit the northern part of Japan on Monday night and triggered tsunami warnings along portions of the coastline as per the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The earthquake struck at 4:53 pm local time, in the Pacific Ocean off Iwate Prefecture. The shaking was felt several hundred kilometres away even in Tokyo the city, where buildings moved briefly.
Within 40 minutes of the earthquake, a tsunami wave that measured 80 centimetres landed at an area in Kuji. Authorities had earlier warned of tsunami waves up to three metres could hit the areas along the river and coast to move immediately to higher levels.
Officials warned that tsunami waves may continue to hit the region in multiple waves and advised the public not to go back until warnings are lifted. A spokesperson for the agency for weather warned of possible aftershocks that could occur in the region.
Japan’s Premier Minister Sanae Takaichi has confirmed the existence of a crisis management team was set up to evaluate the situation. She advised residents living in the affected areas to focus on safety and to relocate to safe areas. Authorities are working to determine if there has occurred any injuries or damages.
Despite the powerful tremor initially, footage from the NHK, the nation’s television station NHK did not show any major destruction in the affected ports.
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Why Japan Faces Frequent Earthquakes
Japan is among the top earthquake-prone nations in the world. It is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire where various plates of tectonics meet. Japan is prone to around 1500 earthquakes each year, accounting for around 18% of all seismic activity.
The country is still carrying the scars from the devastating 2011 Tohoku Tsunami and earthquake which was a 9.0-magnitude catastrophe that generated massive tsunami waves that which killed more than 18,500 people and ultimately led into the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Ongoing Megaquake Concerns
Seismologists are also watching in the Nankai Trough, an 800-kilometre-long area where a massive earthquake is possible. Recent advisory warnings have stated that a massive earthquake in the area could result in massive loss of life as well as economic destruction.
Though previous alerts in 2024, 2025 and 2030 were removed without major issues however, they caused a lot of concern as well as panic purchasing and disrupted travel plans.
Authorities continue to watch closely the seismic activity that occurred following Monday’s earthquake and are urging people to be cautious, since aftershocks and more tsunami waves could be likely.
