Japan issues rare special advisory over chance of more powerful quake
The Japan Times • • general
Key Points:
- A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate, northeastern Japan, triggering tsunamis up to 80 cm in height and prompting a special advisory for 182 municipalities from Hokkaido to Chiba Prefecture.
- Authorities warned residents to prepare for a potentially larger earthquake, with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) estimating a 1% chance of a magnitude 8 or stronger quake, compared to 0.1% under normal conditions.
- Evacuation orders were issued to nearly 172,000 people across Hokkaido, Iwate, Aomori, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures, and emergency measures, including search-and-rescue operations, were activated by the government.
- The quake caused minor injuries and power outages affecting around 100 households in Aomori Prefecture, while no abnormalities were reported at nearby nuclear power plants.
- Transportation disruptions included temporary suspensions of some Shinkansen lines and JR Hokkaido trains, with officials urging residents to stay alert for aftershocks and secondary hazards such as landslides amid forecasted rain.
