Powerful Earthquake Strikes Northern Japan
A strong earthquake with an upgraded magnitude of 6.9 and depth of 16 kilometers (10 miles) hit off the coast of [translate:岩手県] (Iwate Prefecture) at 5:03 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Multiple aftershocks followed the initial tremor.
Tsunami Advisory and Impact
The agency issued a tsunami advisory, warning of waves up to 1 meter (3 feet) along the northern coast, with some areas possibly experiencing waves as high as 3 meters. Small surges were detected including 10 centimeters (4 inches) at Ofunato city, [translate:大湊港] (Ominato port), [translate:宮古市] (Miyako), and [translate:釜石市] (Kamaishi). Waves reached 20 centimeters (8 inches) at the coastal area of [translate:久慈市] (Kuji) and Ofunato.
Safety Measures and Ongoing Risk
Authorities advised residents to avoid the ocean and coastal zones while the advisory was active. They also warned that more shaking might follow, and tsunami waves could continue to strike for several hours, potentially increasing in size over time.
Situation at Nuclear Facilities
No immediate reports of injuries or damage emerged, and the two nuclear power plants in the region reported no abnormalities.
"Tsunami waves that follow earthquakes can continue for a few hours afterward, hitting the coast repeatedly, and can possibly get bigger with time."
Summary: A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off Iwate Prefecture, Japan, triggering a tsunami advisory with waves detected up to 3 meters, but no injuries or damage reported as safety warnings remain in effect.
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