An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit northern Japan this Sunday (9) followed by several other tremors, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. A tsunami warning of up to one meter along the region’s coast was issued.
The earthquake occurred offshore in the Iwate region at a depth of 16 kilometers below the sea surface at 5:03 pm Japan time. There are no reports of injuries or damage, nor any reports of anomalies at the two nuclear power plants in the area, so far. According to the Japanese agency, the area was at risk of strong earthquakes about a week ago, especially in the next two or three days.
A tsunami of about 10 centimeters was detected, reaching 20 centimeters in the Kuji coastal area. Tsunami waves that occur after earthquakes can continue for a few hours afterward, hitting the coast repeatedly, and increase over time. Bullet trains in the area were temporarily delayed, according to rail operator JR East. Power cuts also occurred.
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Despite the warning, an agency official stated that nothing indicates that the incident is similar to the one that occurred in Fukushima, in March 2011, which killed almost 20,000 people and severely damaged a nuclear station. Japan, which is located on the Pacific “ring of fire,” is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world.
