Tsunami Threat Ends After Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake Near Iwate
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture on Sunday evening, registering a 4 on Japan's seismic intensity scale.
Tsunami Waves and Advisory
The quake triggered tsunami waves reaching 20 centimeters in some areas and led to evacuation orders in certain municipalities. A tsunami advisory warning of waves up to 1 meter was issued for Iwate Prefecture but was revoked shortly after 8 p.m.
Wave Observations
- A 20 cm tsunami was recorded at Ofunato Port in Iwate at 6:25 p.m.
- Another 20 cm wave was observed at Kuji Port in Iwate at 5:52 p.m.
Seismic Activity and Impact
The initial quake measured shindo 4 in Morioka and Yahaba in Iwate, and in Wakuya, Miyagi Prefecture. By 8:30 p.m., 11 more quakes occurred in the area, including one of magnitude 6.3 with shindo 3 intensity.
There were no initial reports of injuries or damage.
Infrastructure Effects
- East Japan Railway reported a brief power loss on the Tohoku Shinkansen line, with temporary suspension of services between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations.
- Tohoku Electric Power confirmed no abnormalities at the Onagawa nuclear power plant in Miyagi Prefecture.
The quake was initially reported as magnitude 6.7, but the Japan Meteorological Agency revised it to 6.9.
Summary: A magnitude 6.9 earthquake off Iwate caused minor tsunami waves and temporary transport disruption but no injuries or damage were reported.
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