Japan’s weather agency has warned that another large-scale earthquake could follow the 7.5-magnitude tremor which hit the country on Monday.
The earthquake has left at least 33 people injured and led to tsunami warnings, however waves were not as high as feared, reaching only 2.2 feet in some coastal areas.
All tsunami alerts have been lifted, yet the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned that powerful earthquakes could follow the tremor, calling on people to be on alert for at least a week.
Train services were temporarily suspended, traffic jams were reported, and flights were cancelled at New Chitose airport following the quake.
Here is the latest travel advice and what you need to know following the large earthquake in northern Japan.
Where in Japan has been affected?
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake was recorded in the Pacific Ocean 50 miles off the coast of Aomori on Monday, 8 December at about 11.15pm local time.
The prefecture of Aomori is found at the northern tip of Honshu, Japan’s main island, known for its heavy snowfall in the winter months.
East Japan Railway suspended some services following the quake, while two Shinkansen Expressway trains made emergency stops.
Traffic jams and car accidents also occurred after panicked people tried to flee the city of Hanchinohe in Aomori.
Where in Japan is still under alert?
“There is a possibility that further powerful and stronger earthquakes could occur over the next several days,” a JMA official said at a briefing.
When a 7-magnitude earthquake or higher is recorded in Japan or the Chishima Trench, the possibility of another earthquake is considered to be relatively high, JMA said.
In such cases, JMA issues a “megaquake” advisory, officially called the “Off the Coast of Hokkaido and Sanriku Subsequent Earthquake Advisory”, even though the probability is only around one per cent.
These alerts were created after Japan suffered one of its deadliest earthquakes in 2011, which led to a tsunami and subsequent natural disaster at Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The alert covers the coastal areas from Hokkaido down to the Chiba Prefecture. Authorities in the country have urged residents to check evacuation routes, secure furniture, and prepare emergency supplies, including food, water and portable toilets.
The weather agency added on Tuesday, 9 December, that the areas that have already experienced strong shaking need to be aware of the increased risk of house collapses and landslides.
It added that in the areas where shaking was strong, people should be on the lookout for strong follow-up earthquakes for about a week after the earthquake.
What is the UK government’s advice?
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has released an earthquake and tsunami advisory.
“All tsunami advisories have been lifted following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake off Aomori prefecture on 8 December,” the FCDO wrote.
“However, the Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of the possibility of another follow-up large-scale earthquake over the next 7 days. Please follow the advice of local authorities. For further information in English, please access the NHK website.” NHK is the sole public media organisation of Japan.
Are flights cancelled?
The earthquake has caused 200 passengers to be stranded overnight at New Chitose airport, one of Japan’s largest airports, in Hokkaido, after flights were disrupted.
Passengers were stranded due to flight cancellations, delays, and safety inspections.
A few flights continued to be delayed or cancelled at the airport on Tuesday, however, operations seem to be largely back to normal, according to FlightRadar.
Will my holiday be cancelled?
As the FCDO has not warned against non-essential travel to Japan, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund.
The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you’re looking to postpone.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes.
If you do have travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
Read more: Is it safe to travel to Thailand and Cambodia?
AloJapan.com