Tsunami Threat Passes After Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake Off Iwate
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture on Sunday evening at 5:03 p.m., registering a 4 on Japan's seismic intensity scale. The quake triggered tsunami waves reaching 20 centimeters in some areas, prompting evacuation orders in certain municipalities.
A tsunami advisory was issued for Iwate Prefecture, warning of waves up to 1 meter, but it was lifted shortly after 8 p.m. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially reported the quake as magnitude 6.7 before revising it to 6.9.
Observed Tsunami Waves
- A 20 cm tsunami wave was recorded at Ofunato Port, Iwate, at 6:25 p.m.
- Another 20 cm wave was observed at Kuji Port, Iwate, at 5:52 p.m.
Intensity and Aftershocks
The quake registered shindo 4 in Morioka city and Yahaba town in Iwate, as well as Wakuya town in Miyagi Prefecture. By 8:30 p.m., 11 additional quakes had followed, including one with magnitude 6.3 and shindo 3 intensity.
Impact and Response
No injuries or damage were initially reported.
- East Japan Railway temporarily suspended operations between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations after the Tohoku Shinkansen briefly lost power.
- Tohoku Electric Power confirmed no abnormalities at the Onagawa nuclear power plant in Miyagi Prefecture.
"The tsunami advisory was lifted shortly after 8 p.m. with no significant incidents reported."
Summary: A strong 6.9 magnitude earthquake off Iwate caused minor tsunami waves and temporary disruptions, but no injuries or major damage were reported as the tsunami threat was lifted quickly.