Northern Japan was shaken by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue a tsunami warning with waves estimated up to three meters.
The event was recorded off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, where a sea level rise of 80 centimeters has already been reported at Kuji port.
In response to the situation, authorities have ordered the immediate evacuation of coastal and riverside areas, urging the population to move to higher ground.
The government, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has formed a crisis committee to monitor the damage and coordinate the national response, although no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported at this time.
Alert for Possible Megaquake
Beyond the current earthquake, the JMA has issued a alert for megaquake risk, recommending residents of seven prefectures to be prepared for possible aftershocks or new large-scale seismic movements in the Pacific ocean trenches.
This warning covers a total of 182 cities and towns, keeping the nation on maximum preventive alert.
Seismic Context in Japan
Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is one of the areas with the highest seismic activity in the world, recording about 1,500 tremors annually.
The current fear is heightened by the collective memory of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which left a devastating toll of over 18,500 dead and caused the nuclear crisis in Fukushima.
Authorities insist that the population must remain in safe areas and not return to evacuated areas until the alert is officially lifted, warning that the phenomenon is persistent and waves could repeatedly hit the coast.
