Strong 7.5 quake hits north-east Japan, triggering tsunami alert
A powerful 7.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s north-eastern coast on Monday, prompting a tsunami warning with waves of up to 3 metres forecast.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said a preliminary magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s north-eastern coast on Monday afternoon (April 20).
The tremor was initially reported with its epicentre off the Sanriku coast of Japan, registering an upper 5 on the Shindo seismic intensity scale, at a depth of 10 kilometres.
The government issued a tsunami warning for the Pacific coast, with waves of up to 3 metres expected along coastal areas.
Areas under tsunami warning include
Central Pacific coast of Hokkaido
- Tokachi region, Hokkaido
- Hidaka region, Hokkaido
Pacific coast of Aomori Prefecture
- Aomori Prefecture
Iwate Prefecture
- Iwate Prefecture
Areas under tsunami advisory include
Eastern Pacific coast of Hokkaido
- Nemuro region, Hokkaido
- Kushiro region, Hokkaido
Western Pacific coast of Hokkaido
- Iburi region, Hokkaido
- Oshima region, Hokkaido
Sea of Japan coast of Aomori Prefecture
- Aomori Prefecture
Miyagi Prefecture
- Miyagi Prefecture
Fukushima Prefecture
- Fukushima Prefecture
Early reports from operators in north-eastern Japan said post-quake checks were under way at nuclear facilities in the region.
According to the latest update, aftershocks were also recorded as follows:
- 3.30pm: Earthquake centred off the Sanriku coast, magnitude 4.6, seismic intensity 1
- 3.32pm: Earthquake centred off the Sanriku coast, magnitude 5.4, seismic intensity 2
