Officials in Japan have issued an urgent warning after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the country’s north-east coast, raising concerns about a potentially larger quake in the coming days.
The undersea quake hit off Iwate prefecture, around 530km north of Tokyo, triggering immediate evacuation orders for thousands of residents living in coastal areas.
Authorities warned of possible tsunami waves reaching up to 3 meters (10 feet), prompting people to move to higher ground as a precaution.
While the largest waves recorded reached around 80cm, tsunami warnings were later lifted just hours after the quake.
Despite this, Japan’s meteorological agency has cautioned that the danger is far from over, warning that stronger earthquakes could occur within the next week.
Officials also stated that the likelihood of a quake measuring 8.0 magnitude or higher is currently higher than normal, increasing concern across affected regions.
The tremor, which struck at a depth of about 10km, was felt across a wide area, including parts of Tokyo.
For many, the situation has revived memories of the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which claimed more than 18,000 lives and caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely, urging residents to remain alert and prepared for further seismic activity.
