 A powerful 7.6 quake hit off Japan’s Pacific coast, triggering tsunami waves and power outages before warnings were lifted
TOKYO: A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off the northern coast of Japan late Monday, triggering tsunami waves and widespread disruption.
The quake’s epicentre was off Misawa on Japan’s Pacific coast, at a depth of 44 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning, with waves reaching up to 70 centimetres at the shoreline.
Several tsunami waves hit ports in the northern Aomori region, where Misawa is located.
Public broadcaster NHK cited a hotel employee in Hachinohe city reporting some injuries from the quake, which struck at 1415 GMT.
The tremor forced residents to flee their homes, with many seeking shelter in Hachinohe’s city hall.
Approximately 2,700 homes in Aomori were left without power, and there were numerous reports of fires.
Live footage showed shattered glass fragments scattered across roads in affected areas.
The quake was strongly felt in the northern hub of Sapporo, where smartphone alarms alerted residents.
An NHK reporter in Hokkaido described a horizontal shaking of around 30 seconds that made it impossible to remain standing.
The JMA had initially warned of a potential three-metre tsunami hitting Japan’s Pacific coast.
Top government spokesman Minoru Kihara urged residents to stay in a safe place until the warning was lifted.
Early Tuesday, the JMA lifted the tsunami warning, according to Kyodo news agency.
Lower-grade advisories remained in effect for parts of northern Japan for several hours before also being cancelled.
Shinkansen bullet-train service was suspended between Fukushima and Aomori due to the quake.
The operator stated some services were expected to resume later Tuesday morning.
Kihara said he had “received no reports yet of abnormalities” from two nuclear power plants in northern Japan.
Tohoku Electric Power reported its Higashidori and Onagawa nuclear plants showed no safety equipment abnormalities.
The government warned the area could experience strong quakes in the coming days.
Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences around 1,500 tremors annually.
In March, the government estimated a future “megaquake” and tsunami could cause up to 298,000 deaths and USD 2 trillion in damages. – AFP
