Japan shaken by strong earthquake, evacuation zone declared in Fukushima
Photo: A powerful earthquake shakes Japan (Getty Images)
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 has struck Japan, with a tsunami warning issued for several regions in the country’s east and northeast, according to Sky News.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake initially measured 7.4, but was later upgraded to 7.5 and then confirmed at 7.7 magnitude.
Japanese media report that tsunami waves are expected to reach the prefectures of Aomori, Miyagi, and Fukushima in the near future, although wave heights are not expected to exceed 1 meter. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The quake was strong enough to be felt in Tokyo, located hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter.
According to NHK, level-3 shaking was felt in Wakuya town in Miyagi Prefecture and Yokote city in Akita Prefecture. The Japan Meteorological Agency also reported ground shaking that may affect people on the upper floors of buildings.
Following the tsunami warning, Japanese military forces were deployed for rapid response and disaster management.
Evacuation warning
According to several media reports, evacuation warnings have been issued for residents of 11 cities in Iwate Prefecture, where the strongest waves are expected. These recommendations are not mandatory.
The Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents of the region to stay away from coastlines and rivers and to move to higher ground. Authorities also warned that aftershocks may occur over the next week.
