Japan Earthquake Highlights: Will megaquake hit soon? What govt says

Government projections reported by the news agency suggest that a powerful offshore quake in the Hokkaido–Sanriku zone could set off a massive 30-metre (98-foot) tsunami, potentially claiming as many as 1,99,000 lives and wiping out around 2,20,000 buildings. The economic toll is estimated to be enormous, nearing 31 trillion yen ($198 billion). If such an event were to hit during winter, authorities say up to 42,000 people could be at risk of hypothermia.

JMA cautioned about possible aftershocks in the coming days. It said there is a slight increase in risk of a magnitude 8-level quake and possible tsunami occurring along Japan's northeastern coast from Chiba, just east of Tokyo, to Hokkaido. The agency urged residents in 182 municipalities in the area to monitor their emergency preparedness in the coming week, reminding them that the caution is not a prediction of a big one.

Day after massive 7.6 magnitude quake hit Japan just off the coast of Aomori injuring at least 33 people, the authorities have issued a potential ‘megaquake’ warning for the area, according to a report by NHK Japan. A warning of possible aftershocks in the coming days has also been issued by the authorities.

According to NHK Japan, a major earthquake could also trigger a tsunami along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Chiba Prefecture. Read full story here

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday said that she received reports of 30 injuries and a residential fire.

In a press conference on the Earthquake centered off the Eastern Coast of Aomori Prefecture and Off the Coast of Hokkaido and Sanriku Subsequent Earthquake Advisory, Takaichi said that another quake is likely.

"With regard to the earthquake that occurred last night off the eastern coast of Aomori Prefecture, we have so far received reports of 30 injuries and one residential fire. The government continues to gather information on the damage," she said.

A day after Japan was hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake, the agencies have issued a megaquake alert for the country.

Yes, smaller tsunamis were indeed observed. At the Kuji Port in Iwate, a tsunami measuring 70 centimeters was observed. In Hokkaido, a 50-centimeter tsunami was seen in Urakawa Town and a 40-centimeter tsunami was observed at Mutsuogawara Port in Aomori Prefecture.

The discharge of wastewater contaminated with nuclear radiation was stopped at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after the tsunami warning.

There has been no report of abnormalities after the earthquake from any of nuclear plants in the northeastern parts of the country.

A big quake off northern Japan left at least 30 injured, authorities said Tuesday, damaging roads and leaving thousands without power in freezing temperatures.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the magnitude 7.5 quake at 11:15 pm on Monday (1415 GMT) -- downgraded from 7.6 initially -- raised the chances of similar or larger tremors in the coming days. (AFP)

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has lifted all tsunami advisories across the northeastern coastline, suggesting that there's no threat any more.

Although several people were injured in the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Japan, no reports have indicated any damage to infrastructure or nuclear power plants in the affected region, Bloomberg said.

While most of the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate were issued tsunami warnings in the aftermath of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) later degraded warnings to advisories, suggesting that the main threat had passed.

The highest tsunami wave recorded thus far was in the Iwate prefecture, with waves reaching 0.7 metres high, as per Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

Hokkaido and Aomori prefrectures are also on alert, and waves as high as 0.5 metres have been observed there.

News agency AP reported, citing local media reports, that several people had been injured in Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami.

Details about the number of injured, however, are yet to come in.

Despite initial advisories warning of 3 metre-high (10 feet) waves, the initial tsunami waves recorded along the coast in Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures reached a max height of 0.5 metres, as per the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in a brief comment to reporters, said the government has set up an emergency task force to urgently assess the extent of damage.

“We are putting people's lives first and doing everything we can," the PM said.

Despite the earthquake and the arrival of initial tsunami waves, no irregularities were reported at nuclear power plants run by Tohoku Electric Power and Hokkaido Electric Power in the affected region, Reuters reported.

Tohoku Electric did say, however, that thousands were without power.

On Japan's 1-7 scale of seismic intensity, Monday's earthquake registered as an "upper 6" in the Aomori prefecture, reported Reuters.

A 6 intensity quake is strong enough to make it impossible to keep standing or move without crawling. In such tremors, most heavy furniture can collapse and wall tiles and windowpanes are damaged in many buildings, the news agency said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) stated that initial tsunami waves had been confirmed at Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures.

Details about the height of the waves, expected to be around 10-feet, are still awaited.

Tsunami waves observed at various locations by offshore gauges, reports JMA.

Further details are awaited about the tsunami.

Japan's Meteorological Agency said that waves as high as 10 feet could hit the northeastern coast.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says that the earthquake that occurred off Aomori Prefecture had a a magnitude of 7.6.

Tsunami alert has been issued in Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate after a 7.2 earthquake struck the northern patrt of the country, trigerring a tsunami alert.

The tsunami warning was issued for the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate.

Hazardous tsunami waves from the Hokkaido earthquake are possible within 1,000 km of the epicenter along the coasts of Japan and Russia, PTWC said in a statement.

The powerful earthquake prompted a tsunami alert, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).