Japan’s Meteorological Agency is urging people along the northern Pacific coast to stay vigilant for a mega quake after a tremor led to a tsunami advisory on Friday.
The magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Aomori at 11:44 a.m. at a depth of 17 kilometers.
Tsunami waves as high as 20 centimeters were later observed in parts of Hokkaido and Aomori prefectures. The tsunami advisory was lifted early in the afternoon.
In Hokkaido and across much of the Tohoku region, the tremors reached an intensity of 4 on the Japanese scale of zero to seven.
The tremor was one of many jolts that have occurred since one with an intensity of upper 6 in the Japanese scale of zero to 7 in Hachinohe on Monday.
Following Monday’s magnitude 7.5 quake, a tsunami warning and advisory was issued for coastal areas from Hokkaido and Tohoku.
A 70-centimeter tsunami was observed at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture.
No irregularities at nuclear plants
Tohoku Electric Power Company said no abnormalities were detected at the Higashidori nuclear power plant in Aomori Prefecture, or at the Onagawa plant in Miyagi Prefecture.
Tokyo Electric Power Company said no abnormalities were detected at the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear plants. Both companies say there are no changes in readings at monitoring posts that measure radiation levels around the plants.
Mega quake possibility ‘still valid’
Still, people are being advised to remain vigilant. The meteorological agency issued an “Off the Coast of Hokkaido and Sanriku Subsequent Earthquake Advisory” on Tuesday, following a quake the previous day off northern Japan with a magnitude of 7.5.
The agency says there is a high possibility of a strong tremor along the Japan Trench and the Chishima Trench off Hokkaido.
The advisory covers 182 municipalities in the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Chiba.
According to the agency, a “late-stage earthquake” is a big quake with a magnitude of 8 or higher. The agency explained that Friday’s quake did not meet this standard, and the probability of a larger quake continues to be higher than usual.
It does not mean a quake is certain to occur, and authorities are not asking people to evacuate in advance. But they are urging people to prepare emergency bags to be sure they can evacuate quickly, if needed.
People are also advised to check evacuation places and routes as well as to fix furniture to the ceiling or wall, and stockpile food, water and emergency toilet kits.
AloJapan.com