Japan on heightened alert for possible ‘huge’ quake after 7.7 magnitude tremor

International

By MyTVCebu Desk

JAPAN is on heightened alert after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast, prompting warnings of a potential “huge” quake in the coming days.

The tremor hit waters near Iwate Prefecture, about 530 kilometers north of Tokyo, at a depth of 10 kilometers, triggering evacuation orders and tsunami warnings across coastal communities, a report by BBC stated.

Tremors were felt as far as Tokyo, while alerts were issued for areas closest to the epicenter, including Honshu and Hokkaido.

More than 170,000 people across several prefectures were ordered to evacuate after tsunami warnings—the second-highest alert level—were raised along parts of Japan’s east coast.

Residents were told to leave coastal and riverside areas and move to higher ground or designated evacuation buildings. “Tsunami waves are expected to hit repeatedly. Do not leave safe ground until the warning is lifted,” the Japan Meteorological Agency said in the hours following the quake, a call echoed by Prime Minister Sanae

Takaichi, who urged people to get to “higher, safer places.”

The warning was later downgraded to an alert and eventually lifted shortly before midnight local time.

The largest tsunami waves recorded reached 80 centimeters, lower than the initial projection of up to three meters.

However, authorities warned that the threat is not over.

The meteorological agency said quakes “causing even stronger shaking” could occur within the next week, potentially generating bigger waves, adding that the risk of an earthquake magnitude 8.0 or higher is “relatively higher than during normal times.”

Some disruptions were reported following the quake.

Several bullet train services were temporarily halted, and about 100 homes lost power, according to Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries, and train operations resumed later Monday night.

The latest quake has also revived memories of the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast south of Iwate, triggering a massive tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people and caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant—one of the worst nuclear disasters in history.

Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan experiences around 1,500 earthquakes annually and accounts for about 10% of the world’s earthquakes measuring magnitude 6.0 or higher, underscoring the country’s constant exposure to seismic risks. (Samantha Faye Alcoma, CTU-TC BAEL-ELSD Intern)