Tsunami hits northern Japan after powerful earthquake

[TOKYO] A tsunami of about 80 cm hit Japan’s northeast coast after a powerful earthquake struck off the region on Monday (Apr 20), public broadcaster NHK said, warning those in the region to remain in safe areas away from the coast out of concern larger waves may follow. 

The largest tsunami so far hit Iwate, while Aomori and Hokkaido are also expected to be hit, according to NHK. 

The earthquake, which struck just after 4.50 pm local time, was centred off the northeast coast of Japan and had a magnitude estimated at 7.4, according to the US Geological Survey. 

The tremor shook buildings in Tokyo, several hundred kilometres away from the epicentre. The depth of the quake was estimated at about 10 km, according to the JMA.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said an emergency response centre was being set up by the government, and called for those in areas affected by the earthquake to find safe locations. “Please go quickly to elevated places and evacuation areas,” she said in televised remarks. She said authorities were trying to establish the extent of damage from the quake and if there were any casualties.

Tokyo Electric Power said it was investigating the impact of the earthquake on its facilities, while Hokkaido Electric Power said it had not confirmed any abnormalities at its thermal or nuclear power plants.

Tohoku Electric Power said there were no abnormalities detected in their nuclear or thermal power plants. The quake caused the suspension of Shinkansen high speed rail services in Iwate, NHK said.

In the hour following the earthquake, which struck at 4.52 pm (3.52 pm in Singapore), tsunami waves as high as 80 cm had been detected, while warnings remained for waves as high as 3 m.

Several port towns including Otsuchi and Kamaishi - both hard-hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 - issued evacuation orders for thousands of residents, according to public broadcaster NHK.

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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had set up an emergency task force and urged citizens in the affected areas to evacuate to safety.

“Possible damage and casualties are now being looked into,” Takaichi told reporters at her offices in Tokyo.

Big aftershocks may occur in the following days and weeks, an official from Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) said at a separate televised press conference.

Ships sailed out of Hachinohe port in Hokkaido in anticipation of the waves, footage aired on NHK showed, as a “Tsunami! Evacuate!” alert flashed across the screen.

A 3 m tsunami could cause damage to low-lying areas, flooding buildings, and anybody exposed would be caught in its currents, according to JMA.

Bullet train services in Aomori were halted due to the tremors, Kyodo news agency reported.

No abnormalities reported at idled nuclear plants

The quake measured an “upper 5” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale – strong enough to make it difficult for people to move around. In many cases, unreinforced concrete-block walls collapse.

The tremor had an epicentre in the Pacific Ocean and was 10 km deep, JMA said.

Located in the “Ring of Fire” of volcanoes and oceanic trenches partly encircling the Pacific Basin, Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, with a tremor occurring at least every five minutes.

It accounts for about 20 per cent of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6 or more, such as the 2011 disaster that caused nuclear meltdowns at a Fukushima power plant.

There are no nuclear power plants currently in operation in the affected areas and Hokkaido Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power said there were no abnormalities reported at their idled facilities there. BLOOMBERG, REUTERS