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Tsunami fears ease in Japan after massive 8.3 quake

AFP: Tsunami fears eased in Japan on Saturday after a massive 8.3-magnitude Pacific Ocean earthquake as only minor waves hit the country's north and the United States cancelled its tidal wave alert.

The earthquake east of the Kuril Islands at 0424 GMT rattled northern Japan, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning and urge coastal residents to head to higher ground.

But more than three hours later, no major effects had been reported.

Tiny waves just 10 centimetres (3.9 inches) high lapped against Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, while the United States cancelled its warning for Japan, Russia, and a string of Pacific islands.

"For all areas the tsunami warning and tsunami watch are cancelled," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a statement.

However, waves of 50 centimetres (1.6 feet) were expected on the Pacific coast of Wakayama prefecture, central Japan, at around 4:00 pm (0700 GMT). "We ask that those who are under tsunami warnings to take this seriously and use caution. We also ask that those under advisories to also be careful," said a Japanese meteorological agency official.

Japan last was hit by tsunami on November 15 after a 7.9-magnitude quake that happened in the same area as the latest quake, but the waves caused little damage.

The November quake triggered tsunami alerts stretching from Indonesia to California, with Japan keeping its warning for hours after the quake.

In November, the biggest of the first series of waves was as high as 40 centimetres, followed by larger waves up to 80 centimetres high hitting small islands off central Japan.

"The latest quake happened at an area that we frequently observe earthquakes," a meteorological agency official said.

"It is not clear whether the previous quake and the latest quake are related, but similar things can happen," he said.

Coastal villages and municipalities under tsunami warnings issued evacuation warnings and advisories to thousands of households.

In Tokyo, the government set up a special communication office to collect information about the possible tsunami.

NHK broadcast live footage from various ports in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, and other coastal areas, but few changes were seen.

The tidal level fell by 10 centimetres (3.9 inches) at Hokkaido's Nemuro city at 2:38 pm (0538 GMT) due to pre-tsunami backwash, followed by a 10-centimetre tsunami at 3:04 pm, the agency said.

A slight dropping of the tide levels, also by 10 centimeters, was also seen at nearby Kushiro and Tokachi areas in Hokkaido around 3:00 pm in a sign of pre-tsunami backwash.

Japan is home to 20 percent of the world's major earthquakes, frequently jolting its cities.

 

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