Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The seismic event occurred off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, rattling a populace that is still recovering from a significant geological disturbance only days prior.
According to the JMA, the quake struck at a depth that was shallow enough to disturb the sea floor. Consequently, officials issued immediate tsunami advisories for portions of Japan's Pacific coast, specifically targeting Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures.
Local authorities have confirmed that tsunami waves of up to 20cm have already reached the shores of the affected prefectures. While waves of this height are generally not considered catastrophic, the JMA warned that even small tsunamis can generate dangerous currents.
Acting on these advisories, emergency services coordinated the evacuation of more than 6,000 residents from several coastal towns in Aomori. Footage from local broadcaster NHK showed residents moving to designated evacuation centres and ships moving away from harbours to deeper waters as a precaution.
Region on high alert
The timing of the quake has caused significant anxiety across the region. It's just days after a massive 7.5-magnitude tremor hit the same area on Wednesday (10 December), which resulted in injuries to at least 50 people and caused scattered power outages.
Seismologists warn that large earthquakes are often followed by significant aftershocks, which can cause further damage to buildings already weakened by the initial stress.
Living on the ‘Ring of Fire’
Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active nations, sitting on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. The country accounts for about 20% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.
Because of this, Japan maintains strict construction regulations and holds regular emergency drills. While the infrastructure is built to withstand heavy shaking, the spectre of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami remains a potent memory for the nation.
Utility companies are currently inspecting nuclear power plants in the region for any abnormalities, though no immediate irregularities have been reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Fore...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 13 June, covering the latest developments you need to know....
As the 2026 World Cup kicked off on 11 June across North America, U.S. visa restrictions and travel policies have made it impossible for supporters, ...
Every June, roughly 13 million young people in China sit down at the same time to take the same test. They have been preparing for it, in many cases, ...
European museums are increasingly returning cultural artefacts to countries in Africa and the Middle East, as pressure grows to address the legacy of ...
Japan’s birth rate and fertility levels have fallen to their lowest levels on record, highlighting the country’s worsening demographic crisis as fewer people marry and have children.
A city north of Tokyo has suspended classes at all 94 of its primary and middle schools after its first-ever reported bear sighting, amid growing concern over increasing encounters between bears and people across Japan.
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, power cuts and transport disruption across Japan on Wednesday (3 June) as it tracked towards the greater Tokyo region.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 3 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
SpaceX has made history with the largest initial public offering ever in the United States, pricing its shares at $135 each and achieving a market valuation of $1.77 trillion.
SpaceX made a historic entrance into the Nasdaq on Friday, surging over 20% in its first day of trading and lifting its valuation to more than $2 trillion. Investors flocked to the world’s largest IPO, betting on Elon Musk’s sprawling empire spanning rockets, AI and beyond.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
Armenia has every right to choose Europe. But Europe’s support for Armenia’s direction should not become automatic approval of its political process.
While France hosts next week’s Group of Seven summit, businesses in neighbouring Switzerland have already begun taking precautions, with many shops in Geneva boarded up ahead of a large anti-G7 demonstration expected on Sunday.
Every June, roughly 13 million young people in China sit down at the same time to take the same test. They have been preparing for it, in many cases, since primary school. Their families have rearranged their lives around it.
European museums are increasingly returning cultural artefacts to countries in Africa and the Middle East, as pressure grows to address the legacy of colonialism and disputed ownership.
Uganda’s health ministry has raised concerns over what it described as unfair travel restrictions imposed during the current Ebola outbreak, warning that such measures risk undermining transparent reporting. .
Georgia is overhauling its migration laws in one of the most significant legal reforms in years, introducing criminal penalties for fake marriages, tighter controls on foreign students and expanded investigative powers for the migration authorities.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 13 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment