A Japan earthquake megaquake warning has drawn fresh attention after a powerful offshore tremor struck northern Japan, triggering tsunami waves and prompting officials to caution residents about an elevated risk of a much larger quake.
At least six people were reported injured a day after the earthquake, while tsunami waves reached up to 80 centimetres at Kuji port in Iwate Prefecture. The quake had a magnitude of 7.7, and AP also reported it as a 7.7-magnitude event off the coast of northern Japan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the likelihood of a major earthquake is now higher than during normal times, though officials stressed that the advisory is not a prediction that such a disaster will definitely occur. AP reported that the risk was raised to about 1% over the coming week, compared with roughly 0.1% in normal conditions.
The quake struck in Pacific waters off northern Iwate and was strong enough to shake large buildings in Tokyo, hundreds of kilometres away. Japan remains one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries because it sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Tsunami Alert Lifted After 80-Centimetre Wave
Japan initially issued a tsunami warning for waves up to 3 metres high. However, the alert was later lifted after a series of smaller waves hit the northern coast, including an 80-centimetre wave at Kuji port.
AP reported that residents in 182 coastal towns were urged to stay prepared and review evacuation plans even after the tsunami warning ended. That reflected official concern that aftershocks or a larger follow-up quake could still pose risks.
Six people had been reported injured by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, including two seriously, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. It also said there were no fire outbreaks or major damage to important facilities.
AP’s early reporting said only a small number of injuries had been confirmed and that nuclear facilities were unaffected. That suggests authorities avoided the kind of major infrastructure disaster that has haunted Japan since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
2011 Disaster Still Shapes Public Fear
Japan still lives with the memory of the catastrophic 2011 undersea quake and tsunami, which killed or left missing around 18,500 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster. That history explains why even limited tsunami activity and megaquake advisories carry enormous public weight.
For now, officials are urging vigilance rather than panic. The latest tremor did not cause major visible destruction, but it has renewed concern about the country’s long-term seismic risk and the possibility of stronger quakes ahead.
