“The government will do our utmost in case of an emergency,” said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Early Tuesday, Japan issued an advisory for an increased risk of a possible mega-quake in its northern coastal areas. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the northeastern coast shortly after.
As of midday, tsunami waves of up to three meters were expected following the earthquake. However, details remain unconfirmed regarding the height and impact of these waves.
Within hours, a tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory. Still, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated that the tsunami threat has now passed.
A tsunami of about 80 centimeters was detected at Kuji port in Iwate prefecture. Fortunately, only two people were reported injured after falling during the earthquake.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of about 19 kilometers. Authorities advised 180,000 people to take shelter as a precautionary measure.
Historically, Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries—accounting for about 20 percent of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or more. There is currently a one percent chance for a mega-quake occurring on the northern Japanese coast in the next week or so.
The situation remains fluid as officials monitor developments closely and prepare for any further seismic activity.